Overton Letter, 28 Jan 1862, Smith Co, TX - Maury Co, TN

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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
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LETTER FROM E.C. OVERTON TO JOHN F. OVERTON IN TEXAS

Columbia, Tennessee
January 28, 1862
Colonel John F. Overton
Troup Post Office, Texas

Dear Brother,

After my respects to you and your family, I will inform you that I 
and family are well.  My children have all had the measles and our 
well of them.  I will inform you that John has been well and hearty 
ever since Robert left.  I started him to school last week, he seems 
to be pleased with his school and is attentive to his books. 

I will inform you that the Commissioners appointed by the Court to 
value the Jameson Negroes divided them and I do not know whether 
John got justice or not, for I was not there.  Mr. Parks was 
appointed guardian for John and John got an old woman named Ann 
about forty-five years old.  She was valued at $300 and her son Dick 
who is between five and seven years old was valued at $450.  I am 
informed that Susan and Harriet were valued at $1,050.  I also 
learned that he was charged $100 for a horse and cash of $150 for 
some bacon. 

I suppose you know all about the horse, cash and bacon as you received 
them when you were married.  The balance he gets in money when 
collected.  I also learned they made a distributive share $2,800, so 
you can see he will have something like $700 in money. 

His relations insisted on me to be his guardian and I did so and gave 
a bond for $4,000.  I hired the woman out for $10 and the boy is in 
my house.  I do not know of anyone that wants him.  I took the 
guardianship for your accommodation.  You must take it yourself and as 
soon as you wish, for I have more business to attend to than I can do 
justice by. 

I received a letter from Samuel a few days ago informing me of your 
receiving some money from me and also a check and also a wagon and 
two mules.  I received a letter from Robert informing me that you were 
pleased with the wagon and mules.  Yet you could not take my small 
mules and he states that he has them and may trade them and if he 
should then it may be a long time before I get paid for one of them.  
I suppose that he wants time on a part.  Now say to him that I want to 
pay my debts and anything he does with them will suit me if you are 
satisfied.  If Bob wants time himself you must let him have it if 
possible.  I want him to sell them for all he can get for them and 
give you the money and then I want you to send me a receipt for the 
amount to be credited on my note that you hold against me

I will inform you that I have been disappointed in collecting $525 
that I was almost sure of getting and now find I will have to sue for 
It and God knows when I will get it.  For our Courts are doing nothing. 
I supposed to yours and Potter’s case would have come up this court, 
but it did not and I can't say when it will.  They pass over all 
litigated cases. 

I have commenced plowing.  I have two Negro men for $226.  I sowed all 
my land south of the Branch in wheat and rye except twenty acres and 
I will sow that in oats.  I have a fine lot of goats.  I have thirty 
six lambs and there is eighteen of them black.

I will inform you that the Yankees have killed General (unsure of 
surname) and dispersed his whole estate and they will be in East 
Tennessee in a short time.  I am of the opinion we are going to have 
a long, protracted war.  I may never live to see the end of it and it 
will break me up.  I have doubts but I am in hopes if it does that, we 
will get our independence and separation from the North. 

The expense of this war is great on our side but nothing like that of 
the North

Pork is worth 12 ½ cents.  Wheat is $1.40 per bushel.  Oats are 50 
cents; rye is $1.15.  New bacon is 19 cents the hog pound.  Butter is 
25 cents; lard is 20 cents.  Beef 3 to 4 cents.  Coffee 75 cents; 
salt $13.00 per sack; sugar from 6 to 8 cents; molasses from 40 to 45 
cents per gallon.  Sole leather 75 cents per pound.  Boots are $20 per 
pair.  Janes are $1.50 per yard and calico from 40 to 60 cents.  That 
we used to get 10 and 12 cents.

Your Brother,
E.C. Overton

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