Harrison CO. TX - Jesse Grimes Letters ----¤¤¤---- Letter #83 September 4th, 1855 Jesse, Your letter of the 20th Ult, was rec.d on the lst inst. I was looking with anxiety for it, the news is gratifying. I expected you would have opposition but could not think who it would be. I am glad that it was your old competitor and a highly respectable influential man. If you had gained a victory over any other less popular man than Genl. Lewis it would not give me the same satisfaction. The Know Nothings have turned things upside down in many places. If there progress for the ensuing twelve months should equal that of the past they may elect the next president, they are pretty strong about here, though not quite strong enough to carry the election. I hope that Dickson has beat Pease for Governor. I have seen the result of that election in about one half the Counties of the State, it appears to be tight and tight. Dickson a little ahead, I hope he keeps that way. Things remain here nearly as they were when I was there. Talitha Ann Smith was married about the 1st August to William Johnson son of Pine Barron James Johnson, the same man that you had with you about the close of the Mexican war, they have settled at a place west of Maria Smith, about ¾ of a mile. There is several more of the family ready to marry and it is supposed the old woman would not be offended at an offer of the same kind for herself, so they go but not to Texas. I have seen William but once since he married. Old Mrs. Shaw died about six weeks ago, worn out by age and hard service, no other death or marriages about here of late. But little changing of situations yet amongst the neighbors. The people moving into this neighborhood now are not able to buy a good place. Some inquiring of late about my place, nothing like selling. I give assurance that I would sell and fixed a price. The man was not inquiring for himself but a friend that lives in the Canebrake and wants to leave. My folks are once more in favor of moving if I get a chance to sell before they change again you shall hear of my getting out of Alabama. William expresses a wish to go there but don't seem willing to go without me. I have raised a fine crop of corn, did not plant but little cotton, the weed of that is very large but not well filled with balls. I shall get over it today the first picking. When I wrote to you last everything was suffering for rains but it came in due time in abundance, early fodder was lost for the want of weather to save it, very little good fodder saved here. Everett, Worsham, Albert, William & Jo. All have fine corn crops, but not much cotton. Corn sells so well that there is not much cotton planted about here. Tom & Isaac Grimes and their families would act wisely if they would leave where they are and move down to you county. I saw but little of Texas that I did not like better than where they are living. This land is poor & too brushy to please me. Albert says that Martha Jackson is the ugliest girl in Texas and a fool beside. (that's pretty bad) Frank has not wrote to me since I was there. If I thought it was from ill feeling I would not like it. If he don't write I shall be tempted to return & stay there till he is sorry. It is a cause of regret that Tom Peter Cartwright did not succeed in his laudable undertaking. I presume it was the most praise worthy act of his whole life and he may not have the courage to try it again. I would like to hear that the whole family had successfully determined on stopping their own existence. Their lives are worthless so them then be their own destroyers and the law go clear of their blood. I would like mightly well to be at Austin a few days next winter just to see the collected wisdom of Texas. I remember your telling me a good deal about a Col. Kinny that used to be in the Legislature, of his reckless wasting of the public treasure U is he not the same Col. Kinny that has been all this year trying to get up an expedition against Central America, he is from Texas and I think is the same man, if he is you are in a good way to get rid of him on good terms. Since the yellow fever become severe in N.O. the Bladon & Cullum Springs have been overflowing with the inhabitants of that ill fated city. There is as much of stir amongst the masses there as I saw in Houston, it is now a lively place. We are all well, Asha has been sick a little, a derangement of the digestive organs which as been restored, not a case of fever about here. Every body is goging on slowly just now, nothing to excite us only protracted meetings which have become so common as to be but little noticed. If you do not write before be sure to write just before leaving for Austin and immediately on your return. My highest regard to all. Wm. Grimes P.S. The end of my middle finger is mashed } and so swollen & sore that I hold a pen with difficulty-- ____________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Betty Grimes ___________________________________________________________________