Lybrook/Lybrook Letter, 1867 - Giles Co. VA
Lybrook Family Letters
in Special Collections at Alderman Library,
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
Letter from Philip Lybrook of Pembroke, Giles County, Virginia,
to his brother Henley C. Lybrook in Cassapolis, Cass County, Michigan Territory.
7 March 1867.
Pembroke V. 7.th 1867
Brother Henley C. Lybrook,
Sir I received yors of 2 January lst in which you give me to understand that our brother John is no more I repent
the bereavement but it avails nothing. we are born to dye and it has fell to his lot to pay that debt before one who is
his senior about six years. if I had thought his end was so near I would have gratified him about my condition and
losses but believing from his daughters letter that his best feelings was you rekinized that I failed to do so. Our
family is nerly extinct but three remaining you enquire about Betsy. I believe she is living on little cole river not fare
from the courthouse of Boone county Ballardsville I suppose is the county seat I heard from her last Octover. My
auther was Joseph Atkins son by a Fry girl, he said she was well. I have not seen her since she left Giles I should
suppose she is not very well satisfied, should you send a letter to hir you will mail to Ballardsville Boone county
West Virginia will be her address--You wished to know something about your old acquintances here, as near as I
can, both living and dead I will begin with little David Williams he looks verry old every time I see him he enquires
about you and wants to see you. he is still on the old place. old George Snidow has been dead about 18
months. his son George died about 6 year ago leave a wife and four children Christian Snidow has been dead about 4
years Guy D. French about 3 years your frind Wm H Snidow died about 3 1/2 years ago. Old Frederick Williams
died about 5 year ago John Albert 3 years ago uncle Henly Chapman died nearly two years ago, aged 86 years
was well when arose in the morning and and died in a few hours after The Snidow familys all doing well except
Christian Snidows son P. N. Snidow. he was sent off in the army to the valley of Virginia and the last battle he was in
a pice of shell struck him and cut him intwo a small bit of skin remaining when he fell his face was towards his rear.
there was several others lost in the war from of my acquaintancd that you did not know old Wm Porterfield has been
dead about 3 years old Peter Echols died about 2 months sinc who has been in my neighbourhood with his family for
the last 20 years I am now about the oldist man in the countey--you say your weight is 180 lbs which astonish me
verry much to think that you could weigh so heavy affirms the belief that your health is good your wife I was not
much acquainted to say any thing about her your daughter is less than I had supposed. I should like to see her and
there is no other chance but for you this coming summer to bring her to Virginia there would be no danger would be
in your way Mrs. Hall will be in about that time and you could make the trip with her. I should like to see you one
time more, I never can go to you nor hir in your country my age altogether with my infirmities is not to be controled
by exposure and travil. my inability increases evry year I overlooked old James Alberts boy he had 4 boys in the
army 3 of which came home unhurt youngest his hand and part of his arm was taken off. & James P. Snidow Wm H.
son came home with one leg amputated there are other cases that is not in your acquaintance We are in a bad
condition here in the South I suppose it will not be long untill we will be placed under military controle I believe the
bill has passed both houses of congress to that effect the amendment of the constitution will follow which will make
universal sufferage legal with exception of our best and most accomplished men, we will if this arrangement is
carried out as they intend, our legislaters and officers of all discriptions will have to be of the negro rase or disserters
who they call loyal men, if we have any. But I say confidently if they alter or attempt to amend our constitution
which was made by a set of honest men our freedom is done for ever in this great and prosperous country, dispotic
rule will be the order of the day. I have paid some attention to the last two sessions of congress and if they have done
anything within the bounds of the constitution I have not noticed it I believe they hold drill caucuses with tom Dick
& harry to go with the party right or rong and I believe there is a good many of that class amonst them Summer
Stevens and some others cannot offer a resolution or any thing of the kind but they must have negro in it somwhere,
there two third vote puts the president out of the way. the framer of the constitution never thought the two third vote
would be used for party purposes. You wanted to know whether we have a post office at Pembroke we have, the
letter I wrote you I mailed it myself believing that would give you the necessary information in regard to the
existance of the office the post masters name is Miss C. A. Cook I could not take what they call the oath I was
oppose to war but was compeled to furnish meet bread hay etc. to the southern army I had to do it or have my
property prest and now I have to stand in ranks with the sufferers I should have written to you sooner but wanted to
see what they would do at Washington. It has been raining or snowing for the last ten or twelve days that we have
had no mails for the last two weeks to give us any information from Washington city which I am anxious
to know New River has been higher this spell of rain and snow than it has been since the year 1840 the other streams
has been full also the last season and we had fine corn oats and buckwheat, wheat and rye was a failure. I am
thankful for you and your familys wellfare as to my family there is but three Saml. the old woman and my self, all as
well as could be expected, in some of your letters you asked about William, he came home after the surrender in
1865 and remained there to the first of October he then went to Baltimore remained about 3 month from there to the
city of New York was there a short time ingage while there to do some business for some gentlemen in Texas he
went to Texas and after being there a short time got with the men that he had been doing business for before the war
the last I heard of him he and that man commenced a copartnership in the mercantile business I would like to hear
from you at any time I cannot write my hands is so drawn with my disease I still am your affectionate brother through
life
Philip Lybrook
Submitted by Melissa Smith Kennedy
http://www.people.virginia.edu/~msk5d/genealogy/Lybrook.html
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