E.R. Fawcett - 1837-04-09

 

Greensborough Alabama
April 9th 1837

Dear Pa
        I arrived here yesterday in good health & found Will well, except a common headache.  Their business appears to be tolerably good.
        After being detained three days at Paducah, I proceeded up the Tennessee river to Watterloo, where I was detained one day, waiting for a boat to take us over Colbert  -- Sholes.  When the boat came I quite unexpectedly found that Brance was one of the passengers.  It had been seven years since we saw each other.  Therefore you will not be surprised when I tell you that I scearsely knew him & He had forgotten me entirely.  I steped up to him & said how are you Brance.  He looked at me but at first sight could not makout who I was.  Just at that time I began to feel very flat.  I thought perhaps I was claiming to be brother of a man that I had never seen before.  I asked him if his name was not Brance & by my blind Eye he found me out & it was only his large grey eyes that caused me to step up to him.  I think he looks very much as he did when he was in Staunton except that he is not quite so heavy.  In refference to his business I can say but little.  He toled me that he thought he was engaged in too many things & that he desined to selout some of them, but I suppose he has written to you from Louisville.  It is all a mistake to believe there is much difference between the Southern & western Countries there is some difference in the length of the seasons but the soil in the west is eaqual to any in the world.  In coming here I passed through Tuscumbia a village about double as large a Boonville Mo.  It is at [the] termination of the Daca[] & Tuscumbia Rail Road.  I went on the Rail Road to Courtland 20 miles, in two hours.  The country around Tuscumbia & Courtland is beautifull.  After coming fifteen miles this lide of Courtland I got in to Mountains which continue to Tuscaloosa.  The soil is generally Sandy in all the southern that I have seen
            The farmers have planted Cotton and some of it is up.  Corn is generally up & some has been ploughed over the first time.  Peaches are about the size of hazzlenuts
        When I was in Courtland I saw Wm. Watterman – Ethelbert & John McMahan & his lady who is quite small & pleasant.  Also O’Cravens & his lady.  They all looket well, & seemed well content.

Your Son     Ras

Col McMahons & family is expected to come to the south & settle in the vacinity of Ganesville where a farm has been bought for them
 

Source:  Handwritten original, private collection, Chambless family.  Transcribed to softcopy by Susan D. Chambless, 1998.