Overton Letter, 6 Jan 1861, 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 6, 1861

Troup Post Office, Texas

Dear Brother,

Yours of December 12 is at hand.  I should have answered it sooner, 
but could not, owing to a jump of business.  I will inform you Colonel 
Joseph McKay called on me.  I took him to the Clerk’s office and 
settled with him.  He acted fairly and gentlemanly, paid his 
proportion of part of the expenses of Father’s Burying Clothes.  He 
explained himself as being satisfied, which I do not doubt his 
sincerity. 

I had to attend a lawsuit I had in Marshall County in relation to 
putting an old fellow off of my land. I floored him without much 
trouble, yet from his threats fully calculated I would get a 
thrashing.  Still I am unharmed. 

I also expected to send you $500 on the 15th inst. but learned 
yesterday that I could not get the money.  Jim was to pay me that 
amount on the 15th inst.  He informs me that he will have to sue on 
it and the note is for $2,500 and he will not get the money under 
twelve months.  I have $600 promised me in a few days and six 
hundred on the first of September next.  I do not know how it will 
be, but if I am not disappointed in it, I will forward to you $1,200 
by the first of September.  Yet if I am disappointed in making 
collections I will let you know.

I never have seen such times in my life.  We have no money and can’t 
get any.  Our mules bring in nothing and we have them to feed and 
corn is scarce.  I have hired two men over this year for $230. 

E.C. Overton   

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