Bickley's Mills, Va.
Oct. 17
J. Bickley P.M.
Free
Mrs. John Gose
Clio, Pike County
Illinois
Bickley's Mills, Russell County Virginia Oct. 13th 1835
Dear John & Eliza,
Yours of the 15th Sept. came safely to hand on the 10th Instant and did not fail to bring to our minds some pleasing & some unpleasant reflections, we rejoice to hear that you are both restored to the enjoyment of the inestimable blessing of health & also that Oscar and Mary are well, we hope that you do all feel thankful to the Allmighty giver of life, health, & all your mercies. We have been sorry & unhappy in mind when we heard of your sickness, but hoped that you were so situated that you would not suffer for want of kind attention or something to subsist upon during your illness, and that kind heaven would soon restore you t health. But you may immagine what we felt when we heard otherwise--but dear children, reflect that you are strangers in a foreign land and that you must not explect too much from poor human nature, be thankful for what kindness you received and make all reasonable allowance for disagreeables, live in peace and friendship as far as you reasonably can with all with whom you have to associate or transact business, try to do what you think to be right you selves, let others do as they may--peace, sweet peace of mind, what is more pleasant? We are glad that you have gotten to your selves much better.
Dear children, I was most grieved to think that you thought yourselves rather neglected by my not writing to you. I have no such feelings toward you. I have written 3 long letters before this, some were directed to Love & Gose & perhaps one to Love, but they were written and intended for the satisfaction of you all, if you both have not read them I wish you to get them (if they have come to hand) and read them and in your next let me know whether you have received and red them and also I sent two News Papers, one directed to Eliza and the other to Mary, two of the letters and the Papers you ought to have received before your letter was mailed--my last was mialed 26th September. I do not remember whether it was directed to Love & Gose or how, but was intended for the satisfaction of all, your father has wrote to you a few days since,
In addition to what has been so recently written I do not know of much that would be interesting. I am at this time a little out of sorts with a crick in the neck which is verry disagreeable, otherwise we are all in common health. Sept Mother's cough still continues and is verry bad at present. The following persons were baptised by David Jessee last sunday, Jas. Counts, Lee Scalf, Wm. Grizzle son of John, John Conway Jr., Cinthy Jessee one of Jas. Jessee's daughters. Jas Fuller was at their meeting and preached, for them, he has improved somewhat. Jefferson Banyon in a letter dated 12th September says that himself and all his family had been down bedfast with the fever at one time, not one able to help another and that Hugh Dickenson hired a black woman to waite on them otherwise he did not know what they would have done, he said further that 99 families out of 100 were sick that is more or less of each family, he is so much dissatisfied that he says he will flee to the mountains but does not say where--a letter from shoemaker same date says his family and High Dickenson's are all well and have been all the season, he says there has been a great deal of sickness in that part and mentions Banyon's family being all sick. Corn crops are good, wheat worth 50 cents per bushel, that he had sold 100 bushels at that and has 150 bushels left--and that Bush wants to leave there for Is. in a few days. I have not received any letter from any of our friends since I wrote last.
Since writing the above lines I have received yours of 24th September. I am glad to hear that you are all well. Habourn passed by today 15th October and payed the money but says you are mistaken, he says you may think that he kept $2.50 which he collected for you of some person in Lee (I forget the name) but he says she paid that over to your father. He tells me that he has sold his land to one Shepperd for something upwards of $13.00, is not certain whether he will purchase again in this country or move to Missouri, if he goes to Missouri it will be a year or two first. Somehow I fear that all the western country is more sickly than this and am more doubtful about you all having your health than I was before you. went away. I think you should be verry careful and try by observation to discover if possible what course of conduct and diet is most favorable to the promotion of health and be careful to pursue it, if you could not do so much of business in a little time, you would certainly gain more by a course that would procure health if that is possible.Old Mr. Clay the school master died of the flux 3rd Inst. N.B. Gray is teaching school for us here, has undertaken for four months, is occupying my old mansion on Pleasant Hill, it is a heartsome situation. We have our meeting house raised and under pinned and will have it covered soon. H. Gray has done nothing for us yet, the house is on the land given by Father.
Halley's Commet (as it is called) has been a splendid object for a few evenings past with us and I would suppose it is the same to you. The present season of the year, the fading of nature and beauty of summer falling, at every breeze somehow has always inspired me with a kind of rambling disposition. I doubt not that I would be much pleased with a ramble at this time of year in your wide extended prairies in company of my dear children and friends etc. But as I do not calculate on that happening soon if ever, you must write to me often. (Eliza, you must write) and tell us of some of the beauties of nature in your country, inquire of us about matters and things of which we fail to write.
Little John fletcher is just able to set alone and weighs 16 #. Harriette weighs 28 #, the other children are at present all in good health and growing fast. That sweet health and peace of mind may be all your constant companions is the sincere desire of you affectionate parents,
John and Elizabeth Bickley
To John & Eliza Gose
N.B. Give our best respects to Oscar & Mary
Father & Step Mother desire to be remembered to you all.