Bickley Mills, Va.
Sept. 13
Free
J. Bickley Post.
Mrs. John Gose
Clio
Pike County Illinois
John Bickley
Russell County Va
Bickley's Mills, Va. Sept. 12th 1837
Dear son & Daughter,
Yours of the 30th of May containing your scrap of the 9th Febr. & one dated 2nd August have all been auly received and read with pleasure and also one Is. of the Quincy Argus. We are indeed glad to heare of your continued health and flattering prospects for the future. We were sorry to hear that the owner of the quarter of land on which you lived had bourn so hard on you, but what can't be cured must be endured. Myself and family with your friends generally so far as I know at present are in common health. Sept Mother died on the 17th of last month after lingering and suffering much for a long time---also your half sister Nancy Gose died on the 7th Inst. she had been ailing for some considerable time. I have nothing verry interesting to write to you, but will say a few things.
I have been mostly engaged carding wool this summer, have only carded a little upward of 2000th at 6 1/4 cents and expect to card some more yet. Crops of wheat and oats were very good here this season. Corn will be but midling and will be used very early, some new corn was ground here in August. Cattle sold better here than had been expected. Not much said about pork yet--as to money matters I suppose it is here much as it is with you, our Legislature passed some laws for the relief of the Banks and some stray laws for the relief of the people--in collection of debts we are bound to take Virginia paper or wait until next spring. We get along slowly anyhow in Virginia as usual, very little doing as to improvement of the country. Col. Wm. Price has sold out and intends moving this fall, he is going to his Brother Crabtree in the couth west corner of Missourie state--Mr. William H. Holbrook who married David Osborn's daughter left here one night last month for the west. He said he was going to Caleb Osborn's--he was teaching school in the lower end of Castle's Woods living in the house Giles Lee left. He was talking of moving this fall and had bought a carryall from Wm. Donahew and a mare from Solomon Osborn, Andrew Fraley had went his security for the carryall, he had went in debt to the stores of McCary, Alderson, Robt. P. Dickenson and A.S. Gray, borrowed some money of old Jas, Lee and Wm. Fraley, $10 of each, and tried your father for 20 but failed. He owes me 4 dollars for some work I had done for him, he thought to be quite a respectable man, the day before he cut out he went to his father-in-law and borrowed his best horse as he said to haul some oats---went and got his shod and had packed up what he could carry conveniently and he and his wife cut out some time in the night of friday. It was some time on Sunday before the neighbours learned that he has left.
Solomon Osborn has an attachment leaned on what property was found, Andrew Fraley followed and overtook him in Kentucky somewhere and got his mare saddle and saddle bags, leaving one beast for him and wife--so he has taken french leave.
Whitley Litton son of Solomon Litton, about last of August commited suicide by strangling himself with a rope, he was found on some flax at his father's barn with his face down, his head a little raised by the rope which was fastened above him, the flax on which he lay was a little sloping, his feet was on the lower part. no cause assigned for the fatal deed. Hiram Rion's wife has died I think since I wrote you last with billious fever. Some marriages have taken place among some of your acquaintance, George Donahew to Leticia Litton Daughter of Solomon Litton. Charles Carrel the clerk's son to a Miss Kelley daughter of Vincent Kelley that formerly carried the mail on this Rout, he is poor but his Daughter is a girl of some mind. She has some time since taught a school in Lebanon where they formed an acquaintance. In answer to your enquiries about the girles over the river I cant say what their prospects are. I think their beaux are rather slack. Jas. M. Hanson, Joseph Fugate, Col. Alderson with others gallant them occasionally. Camp meeting closes this morning at McClure's Chapel. I was there on sundy, there was a good congregation and Wm. Patton and Halshaw preached each a fine sermon, no very great stir, about 8 or 10 had joined on yesterday. I learned this morning that there was a little unpleasant stir when the mourners were in the alter yesterday.
A free woman of couler and a white woman standing on the benches commenced a little fight which disterbed the composure of people somewhat. I understand the coulered was sent to prison--a couple of black gentlemen it is said too, took a little fisty cuff about the gate etc. Your Brother Aaron (can't read) did intend visiting the western country this fall in company with (can't read) Banner, but Banner has gone with Beaty driving Cattle and will not return in time for the trip, it is therefore pobable that Aaron will not start for lack of company, I have sent some newspapers to you and Oscar, we wish you to drop a line to us frequently, Eliza, your Mother requests the pleasure of seeing and reading a few lines from your hand, your Father joins in this request, we would like to know what the prospects are of your visiting this country, we expect circumstances are not the most favourable at present, but if you have any time in contemplation when you think it probable you can come, we would like to know--from your own feelings in this matter you may have some guess of ours. With our best wishes for your present and future happiness in time and eternity we must close this scrand.
Your affectionate parents
John and Elizabeth Bickley
Sept. 12 received Oscar's letter dated 6th August, The black woman I mentioned having fought at camp meeting was one of a family of blacks free'd by Gilmore, one of old Tom's Daughters. Instead of taking her to prison as I first understood they only took her to a tree and gave her 15 lashes. The white woman was Pat Conway who is married to an Indian or a mulatto man.
Col. John Keiler formerly of Abingdon Va. died about 9th of June last on his return from Texas to Orleans and was buried on the gulf shore. Give our respects to Long and wife.