Letter - Routon-Bateman - 1863 - Smith County, Texas 
From Elizabeth "Betsy" Ann Alford Routon and Matthew Routon to 
Winnie Rogers Routon Bateman

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This letter is in the possession of Charles C. and Olene Bateman, 
Lindale, Tx.
Transcribed and submitted by 
David Allan Hardin - hrhdah@mailandnews.com

Bellona Texas}
Dec 20th 1863}

My Dear daughter I seat my self to answer your kind power that came 
to hand a few  Sence it found us all well this leaves us in the same 
condition  hoping it will find you and family well and doing well  I 
have nothing of interest to write you more than we have gust to day 
rec'd  a letter from John B. Routon {son of Matthew and Betsy Alford 
Routon} him and the other boys were well  from the reading of your 
letter it seames as if you were pesterd about Pleasant  you kneed not 
be uneasy about him for the news bill rote you is not so  we cant see 
how bill got that Pleasant {William Pleasant, son of Matthew and Betsy 
Alford Routon} Spier {Spire W., son of Matthew and Betsy Alford Routon} 
and Tolly {Matthew Talbot, Matthew and Betsy Alford Routon} were out 
there when the men were shot  there were three men rode up to this 
mans house and he came out and one of them shot him but never killed 
him and he is not ded yet.  {the phrase "some of them" has been crossed 
out} it is beleaved that there is a club of them and sum of them I 
suppose have sed that Pleasant belong to that club because he bought 
a nag from one of the men that they have heard were stole  Pleasant 
knew nothing of her being stole when he bought her and so fer as his 
being in the mountains is falce or ever bin there  he bought this mar 
and started to his company and got that fer and his eyes got too bad 
he thought he would take Spier and Tolly and go and fetch his family
out {illeg.} and while they were there this man were shot and a young 
man that belonged to that club or part of men that shot Wellborn sed 
that his brotheren law by the name of davis harberd and set the plan 
for those three men by the name of Horton Monk and Reid to get 
Wellborn out and kill him so they took up davis and hung him and so 
fer as Pleasant having or eaven  nowing any thing about it is not so  
for he wer hear for a long time before this hapend and then came back 
with his family and the boys and is gone on to his company  answer 
this and let us no wether there were any letter in yours (backed to 
C. H. Wellborn, Hopkinsville, Pa) and wether you mailed it or not  
Missouri and the children is hear and well we all want to see you and 
want to hear from you very bad  we have a heap of trubles to stand and 
we are looking for them to call Spier an Tolly every day but I don't  
think they will take them out of the state  You can write to Bill the 
thruth to bill about this tale and dont show this letter  we have 
never recd but 2 letters from Bill sence he has bin in cervice  I am 
very sorry you are there by your self but I am in hopes you will 
{illeg.} well and that I may live to see you a gain but from my 
present feelings I am fearful I shall not fer it does looke like if 
trouble ever killed any person it will surely kill me but daughter 
let us try to live so as if we never meete on earth that we may 
meete in heaven where we will ever be together to enjoy all hapines 
and gay that is prepared for all those who acknowledg and follow our 
crucified but risen and exalted Lord and savior Jesus Christ   from 
your affectionate father and mother untell death

M Routon
B. A. Routon

{The letter appears to have been written by Betsy as "father and" is 
written above the word mother and "M. Routon" is squeezed in above 
her signature.  The Routons were in Austin County in the 1860 Census.  
I cannot find a Bellona on the map, but the county seat of Austin 
County is Bellville.  Winney lived in Smith County, Texas at this 
time and was married to William Daniel Bateman, Sr.  The Bill 
referred to in the letter may be her husband.  The letter was 
written on paper that had been used previously for a letter written 
from Quintana on 18 March 1856.  It is a formal business letter that 
includes no name associated with this county.}