Overton Letter, 5 Jul 1858, Smith Co, TX - Maury Co, TN

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Permission has been granted from Howard Bramlette of Nashville, TN,
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19 September 2000
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LETTER FROM E.C. OVERTON TO JOHN F. OVERTON IN TEXAS

Columbia, Tennessee
July the 5th, 1858

Dear Brother,

Yours of the 11th of June is before me.  I am sorry to hear of your 
having so much sickness in your family.  My family and self are in 
tolerable health, I have had two attacks of something like 
encephalitis which I have been subject to for some four years, have 
it on me at present. 

It seems as you and I have had pretty much the same difficulties in 
making a crop, I made but little wheat and no oats, my corn looks 
pretty well. 

You inform me that you had two objects in view in buying of the old 
place, one was to accommodate me and to pay me back a favor that you 
considered due me a long time.  At the same time self was in it too, 
and you do not feel willing to take cost for it now and it is more 
money than you are willing to let out at 6%, when you can get 12% or 
more.  You prefer waiting a year or two and I say do so, for it is 
right for you to do as you please in that respect.  I think we agreed 
to sell it at the expiration of three years and if it is your wish to 
prolong the time, I want you to inform me as I want to know one year 
before hand when I have to leave, so that I may be getting clear of 
some of my surpluses and make an arrangement for a home. 

As to your being under obligation to me, you have not informed me in 
what particular and I do not wish you to consider yourself bound, for 
I do not know that I even did you a favor more than I felt it my duty 
to do so. 

You informed me that your understanding was that we bought the place 
for two reasons, one was because it did not bring its worth and 
secondly that I could live on it and improve it some in only two or 
three years, then sell.  We were to go in halves in expenses and 
improving.  The above is your opinion, of our agreement.  Now I will 
inform you that I have had two motives in buying.  One was that I 
wanted the land to bring every dollar it was worth so that each heir 
would get his due and that I could live on it until I wound up all 
the business of the estate here and then we could sell at an advance, 
then I would move to Texas.  You will see we differed but little in 
our opinion of our motives in buying this land.

I thought when the railroad was completed that land would advance in 
this country and it may do so.  Mr. Potter came and looked all over 
it and could not make an advance and I asked him what he would give 
and he informed me there he could advance nothing unless he could get 
more adjoining it.  They knew I had bought corn and stock and had no 
place to go and if we refused to take the $500 advance that the clerk 
would sell it over, when informed of the offer being made.  But when 
he, Mr. Potter, found out that he could get it, he concluded he could 
not make any advance.  You request made to inform you what I will take 
and my terms for my interest in the land, I will say to you that I 
asked you if you would take my interest as you would not let me have 
yours. 

Supposing you would understand me at $22.75 per acre.  I could not 
think of offering you one price and asking you a greater.  My motive 
was this: I may find a place that may suit me and not be able to buy 
unless I could sell this land.  And I now repeat the question; will 
you take my part of the land off my hands?  Payable in one, two and 
three years, with interest from November 5th, 1858. 

I have been imposed upon in neighboring like Father was, and intend 
doing my own work and they can do the same.  I tried several who had 
threshers to get them to trash my wheat, but could get none for wheat 
is worth but 50¢ and I bought me one of my own.  It cost me $159 in 
Nashville so I will get out of my own and if I live another year I 
can do threshing for the public and make it pay for itself.  I have 
not got the money to spare to buy it with but I must do so or lose my 
wheat.  I have to build me a wheat house too.

I have but little hope of gaining my suit, for one of their witnesses 
swore a lie and if his oath stands, I will lose but my lawyer thinks 
I will gain it.  I will know in August, I will see Gaunt on tomorrow 
and will let you know all about your business in a few days.  Rodery 
is still silent.  I can't hear from him he is paying 6% and it will 
go to the one that fails to get their part now. 

Your Brother,
E.C. Overton 

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