LETTER FROM MARTHA A. DEAN TO T. W. DEAN - 1864 - Madison Co, GA

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Submitted by Mary Love Berryman - marylove@tyler.net
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This letter was copied from the original by Charlotte Bond.  The letter 
was in the possession of Willie Dean Brown, now deceased.

Madison Springs, Georgia                       May 30, 1864

My dearest husband I seat myself this evening to drop you a few lines 
to inform you that we are in common health.  Adeline has been sick a 
week but she is getting well.  I have had a hard time this spring.  I
have had a good deal of struggles to contend with.

I hope these lines may go safe to your hand and find you in good health.
I have nothing of much news to write you, you complain of me not writing
to you, the reason I did not, James said he would and I thought it
sufficient for I supposed he would give you the news, but here after I
will write myself, then I will know when and how it is done.

I will say to that the prospect for a crop this season is very gloomy
and c . . . . 

The wheat is sorry but if nothing happens to it, it will make more
than I once thought it would.  Corn is very small.  The birds has 
pulled my corn up and I have had to plant some of it three times over.
I planted me a little cotton and some syrup cane.  My potatoes is just
now beginning to come up,  You wanted to know if there is any fruit 
here.  There are some apples right smart but hardly any peaches.  We 
get plenty of milk now and our other cow will have a calf in two or
three weeks.  I want to know if I must put her up for I am fearful she
will ruin the young trees.  My garden looks tolerable well considering
the spring being so late.  Wednesday evening we had a good rain but it
seems to be gone.  I have a hard way of getting along.  I would . . . .
you came  . . . .  any  . . . .

I still live in hopes of seeing you again.  I understand that the 
factory is going to stop soon.  James is going to Athens soon and I 
must try and send mine and get a bunch of thread.  They are giving a
bunch for 3 lbs of wool.  I think I had better do that than give $65.00
in money.   I have received the money you sent me, that is forty 
dollars.  James promised to let me have some wool in the fall.  Mother 
got a letter from Mary the other day.  She says the women & children is 
leaving Atlanta and she is coming away to visit here.  The stock is 
all alive yet and doing as well as could be expected not to have corn 
to eaat.  I have me a hog up fattening.  I want to have it fat by July,
then if you will come you can perhaps have some fresh ham.

The children all want to see you and talks about you every day.  Little
Robert grows as fast as you ever saw and is going on his hands and feet
all over the house.  He is as pretty as ever.

My dear husband you don't know how bad I want to see  you.  I see many
uneasy hours about you and I hope to see you again ere long.

I hear shoes are selling at Montgomery are $30.00.  I had a notion of
getting me a pair.  If you think it is too much I will wait a while.

You wanted to know who brought Nancy from Augusta.  Mr. H. L. Sanders.
Martha and Adaline send their regards to you and says for you to write
to them.  Your mother sends her best wishes & c . . . . . Now in
conclusion I will say that Henry Deen is dead.  He was killed the 12th
day of this instant.  I have wrote all I know at the present.

You must write soon.

                                          Nothing more but remain
Your affectionaate wife.
                                          Martha A. Dean
                                      To - W. W. Dean

Transcribed June 2, 199 0
Additional information provided by transcriber:

A.  This letter was written to Thomas Wesley Dean.  His wife was Martha
    A. Guest (B - 1827 D - 1864) daughter of Benjamin F. Guest and 
    Mary Varner (B - 10/18/1805 D - 3/28/1889).

B.  Nancy, Martha, and Adaline are her sisters and James is her brother.
    Sarah F. 'Adaline' Guest (B - 9/29/1835 D - 11/23/1903) was married 
    to Nathan Collins Bond (B - 12/17/1824 D - 10/26/1894).  James M.
    Guest (B - 4/21/1839 D - 7/16/1899) was married to Mary M. Bond
    (B  - 2/2/1832 D - 11/6/1872).

C.  Henry Dean was the son of James M. Deen (B - 5/24/1822 D - 
    1/12/1894) and Prudence E. Beard (B - 11/30/1822 D - 1/14/1904.

D.  Thomas Deen carried this letter in his hip pocket and brought it
    home with him.

E.  Sadly, the ravages of war took its toll on Martha Dean.  She died
    within the year.

F.  Thomas Deen married Sarah Elizabeth Stovall Beaard on December 10, 
    1865.  Sara was the widow of John R. Beard.  John was the brother
    of William Watson Beard.

G.  Martha A. Guest and Thomas Dean were married March 29, 1853.