Harrison Co. TX - Jesse Grimes Letters ----¤¤¤---- ST # 12 April llth, 1849 Jesse. Immediately after my last letter left here I received one from you.I delayed writing for sometime hoping to get another from you agreeing to meet me at New Orleans agreeable to the proposlal made in my last. The Cholera having lingered about that city for several months past, I presume has been the cause of your not accepting the Invitation and like wise the cause of Nancy's non appearance in Alabama. If you should consent to come to New Orleans and start a letter to me stating the time and place where I can meet you at any time before the first of June, you may be certain of meeting me unless I should be disabled. My chance for visiting Texas this year was entirely defeated by causes stated in my last. Knowing as I did that the past winter was a leisure one to you,I felt more anxious to be there than I shall the next. Also there seems to be a fixed determination amongst my friends & county men to use my name for the Legislature.They have not got my consent nor will I consent. I believe by refusing to permit my name being used, will turn the burthen on some one else. I care but little who it be so I escape. But if my county men cannot select another and will voluntarily elect me, I will have to serve. I do not apprehend any danger from the stand I have taken. I am now private & free from all public strife and intend to so remain. I am from head to heels in the farm. My head & heels is of the most use to me, one directs and the other carries me from place to place. I am nearly done planting. Will finish in a few days. My oldest corn has been severely frost bittin & pelted to the ground by two heavy hail storms from which it is recovering but slowly. My first cotton is up and looks any way only healthy & prosperous. My neighbors are "busily engaged in their farms. No loafers stragling over the country, no person to hire should one be wanted. My last years cotten cropngtted me about $600, and I have sold 350 bushels of corn. This with some money I have collected has furnished me money enough to pay all I owe or am in any manner whatever bound for and have bought a mare at $80 and will have a little left. The amount for Texas is in hand safe enough and there it will remain until a suitable oppertunity offers or until you call for it. When I used it,little did I think that I would not be able to return the amount out of my next crop. Mishaps followed each other yearly and if you were not disgusted at hearing them, I was at being compelled to make them. We think here money worth the lawful interest. This however I shall not offer at present for a good reason. If you think and intimate that thought to me, a provision will be made as soon as possible for paying interest. I had the use of the money at a time when I was needy. Hereafter I intend to keep off pressure by keeping out of debt. Last winter was remarkably favorable for all kinds of out door business. The weather too warm for saving pork withing taking out the bone. On the 15th of February, more soft snow fell than I recollect seeing fall at any time in this country. A spell of quite cold weather followed, lasting about a week. Except then and a few frost the last of March, corn would growed since the year came in. The ground is now too dry to send forth the corn in it. Since writing the above, I have discovered that I shall finish planting my entire crop today (Potatoes excepted). The first planted is ready for working which I will soon let it have . If Frank, Nancy or any one else write letters there they are missent. At least none reaches us. In Nancy's last, she spoke of coming here in the course of the winter. We have been somewhat expecting her and have not entirely given out looking for her this spring. When you see them, tell them we are all well, that Louisa, Ann & Martha are going to school. John & Mary Everitt are well and well satisfied with their move, have another boy which they call Joseph. Jim & Maria Worsham and children are well and tolerable well fixed at the Bookajah Smith old place near where he lived. Wm & Joe are ploughing. Joe's legs is ling and he is an aukward fellow, full six feet in night, full of fun and drollery and a good hand to work and also to play. The neighbors are all well and deeply engaged with there crops. But few deaths or marriages of late and them not of you acquaintance. My respects to all. Wm. Grimes Letter shows mailed at Old Washington C.H., Ala April 13/49 10 Hon. Jesse Grimes, Grimes County, Texas. __________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Sharon Timmons ___________________________________________________________________