Harrison Co. TX - Jesse Grimes Letters ----¤¤¤---- Letter # 84 Old Washington C. H. Dec. 24. 1855 Jesse, Your letter of the 16th of October did not reach here till 25th Nov. Not withstanding the sad & truly melancholy intelligence it communicated there was other matters of lively interest. As I expect this letter to find you at Austin and I hope at the quiet and delightful residence of your old friend Mr. Cook. I request you to mention my name to him and his most excellent wife. She is as true a Texian as I met with in that State and entitled to a full share of the domestic happiness which now surrounds her. I wish them health and contentment. The interval between my last epistle and this is one in which nothing of importance has transpired amongst us here. The crops have all been gathered in and are ample to supply our necessities. The corn crop is the largest ever made in this part of the State, the result is that corn is cheap. There was but little cotton planted in this section of country, what there is, is pretty good. I planted but little have not done ginning having to gin for others but there will be enough to cover all pressing demands. The turpentine business is more extensive this year and less profitable than heretofore. It is said to be a starving business for a white man with family and only himself to work provisions have been so high this year that some families have been under the necessity of doing without meat and corn was scarcer than I ever knew it here. There is many new comers about here stuck in hollows & top of hills that make but little to feed themselves on and nothing to buy with, yet they find ways and means to subsist themselves and large families. The law says, "thou shalt not steal" of course they are honest. Since the meeting of your Legislature I have received from you Sunday papers and documents which I read with great relish and deep interest. The editors of your papers have a lively time of it during the Session and I would suppose they might find enough to fill up their papers without so much personal abuse about nothing or know nothings, anti know nothingism, etc. I am much pleased with a part of the Governors message indeed. I do not know but what the whole of his recommendations may be good he has said a great deal about the fiscal affairs of your State and seems to want economy in expenditures, but his policy of State Aid for internal improvements exceeds anything I have ever seen from a democratic, it equals that of Henry Clay in his best days. Governor Pease's recommendations upon internal improvement are as opposite as the poles to that of Governor Winston at the opening of the Ala. Legislature. If your State had the 1600 miles of railroad now in operations as mentioned by the Gov. the tide of immigration would be great to that great State. Last night I recd. a Gazette paper and two extras from same office which I have not had time to read much but I see in them the names of counties and representatives and some of the work of your Legislature, have noticed your name as Chairman of the Finance Committee which I suppose to be the most important committee of the whole, quite a compliment this. It would afford me much satisfaction to be at Austin about a week during the Session to see and talk with the members from the different portions of the State about the country and everything connected with that part where they live. Lately I have become desireous of particular information about the S.E. corner of the State, what is doing low down on Sabine river & the bay, if there is any commerce at the bay. If you get this before you leave Austin I wish you would talk with the representatives of Newton, Jasper, Orange & Jefferson about their country, learn of them what men do there for a livlihood, whether the country is high or swampy, good or bad water, what kind of land, rich or poor, what kind of timber, plenty or scarce, how the health is if there is bold running creeks and if vessels freely and frequently visit Sabine bay & how high steamers ascend the river, etc. I now feel like I wanted to see that and other portions of the State I did not see when I was there. Perhaps you are or may be able to gratify my curiosity if so I wish you would as soon as you have leasure to do so. I am acquainted with several men that are living there they give a flattering description of the country yet I am not satisfied that their opinion is reliable. If I should sell my land my aim will be to settle in Texas and as I believe there is a probability of selling I want all the information I can get about every inhabited portion of the State. But few changes amongst the neighbors of late since I wrote my last. David Rudder & his daughter Joice McIlwain have died no other deaths of old friends. Madam rumor says that Ellen Smith is to be married in a few days to Joseph Mott, she is the 2nd daughter of William Smith. Maria Smith & family were well a few days ago. Blame the noisy crowd around me and not Christmas for the blunders & omissions herein commited. Let one have a long letter from you on your return home. Wm. Grimes ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Betty Grimes ___________________________________________________________________