Overton Letter, 23 Jul 1859, Smith Co, TX - Maury Co, TN ***************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Permission has been granted from Howard Bramlette of Nashville, TN, owner of the letter, for submission to the Smith County TXGenWeb Archives by Joel Patrick Childress - londonwildcat@earthlink.net 19 September 2000 ***************************************************************** LETTER FROM E.C. OVERTON TO JOHN F. OVERTON IN TEXAS Columbia, Tennessee, July 23, 1859 Colonel John F. Overton Troup Post Office, Texas Dear Brother, After my best of respects I will inform you that we are all up. Susan has been quite sick and we almost despaired of Alice, yet she is on the mend and I hope will be convalescent in a few days. You wish me to fix up a note to specify the object it is for, and I enclose one but will inform you that there is no difference between this note and the one I sent you, except one is due in September and the other in November, in the eyes of the Law. And were it not that I so much desire the Old Homestead as a home in and dread the amount of trouble and confusion it would for me to be moving about, I would say to you that we will sell to the best advantage. For the following additional reasons it seems from your letter that you rather find yourself picked up by my acceding to your proposition which expression causes me to think that you are not satisfied with me in so acceding to your proposal. Secondly I have made 4 bushels of wheat to the acre, no oats. I am afraid I will not average 1 barrel of corn to the acre, we have had no rain for weeks and no one else will make more in any part of the country and in a portion of the adjoining counties unless we have rain in a few days. I do not know what to do for I cannot keep my hogs alive or prepare my mules for market. We shall have the most distressing times here ever known in this country. Our pastures are dry and there is no old corn or bacon in the country and men that have money will not lend or share it without extorting the heaviest kind of a percent. I will inform you that James has been trying to get your money but has failed so far. But says he will try again as soon as he can and he will forward to you the money. I will say to you that I did not put out the notes as you requested and as I did not do so I feel that I am bound to see the you get the money as soon as you could have gotten it by law. I hope he may get it for you in a short time. I received a letter from McKay a few days ago containing insinuating characteristics of the man, which insinuations I shall treat with silent contempt. Yet were we face to face it might be otherwise and will be should we ever meet. I will say to you that I may pay you a part of this note before 1868, provided you will discount six percent, for if I have the money I want to use it in that way. It will take all that I am worth to pay for it, if not more and as long as I can labor I hope to make a surplus. We have of a good deal of sickness here and some deaths. Mrs. Sanders and old May Odil and Dr. George White were all buried the other day. Give my love to all. You may expect a letter from me in 15 days after this if nothing happens. Your Brother, E.C. Overton (Use "back button" to return to the Overton Letters Table of Contents.)