Jane Amanda Durfee - 1891-12-28


Jane Amanda Durfee - 1891-12-28

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July 4th 1881
Huntsville Ala

Dear Cousin John Jay Johns

                I received your Postal card to day & both the papers - I am much obliged to you for them - I had rather visit those old homesteads where my Father Grandfather Uncles & Aunts lived than any where in the world - my recollection of them is vivid - I would like to know who lives there - Uncle John & James Walkers beautiful site stans [sic] on two hills & Haliday Creek flowing between them & the red gullies & hills & the road so narrow at the foot of the hill carriages could not pass as the gullies commenced on the oposite side of the hill right from the road - it was a fearful place to pass - Uncle Glover your Father lived nearer to us than they did & at a nice place & --- grandfather lived about 3 miles from there & my Father lived at several places but never left the neighbourtood [sic] then my aunts were such beautiful housekeepers & I think they must have been the best wives in the world they were practical - the nicest place we ever lived was two miles from the Courthouse or Maysville as it was called - that was a beautiful place & well improved - The last time I was there was the year I was married 1821 - I visited them all then when they were all in health & prosperity - I have often been to Va since but being with a party could not go so far out of the way when I had no relation there to visit - I have often been to Lynchburg where I used to go to school to Parson Read as we called him a Presbyterian minister & one of the best of men - Cousin Sally Walker went there before I did & died there - Uncle Johns daughter & I was taken from there very ill - Do you remember Old Peter Fr[an]cisco that lived near your Fathers - the strongest biggest man I ever saw - he could take a man standing in his hand & carry him about & jump over chairs sat in a row - I am glad you have been there -

Now I must tell you some home nuse [sic]- Our Cousin Lou Patton has swapped her house & some land for a place joining - that has a large framed house on it & well improved grounds - she is very comfortably fixed but not elegantly as she was before - She was in debt $6000 - 00 & never could get out by taking boarders - & she got $6000 to boot & paid her debts - & and now she has to take some boarders as she has little or no income - but that is so much better than being in debt - She has but one child living with her a daughter about 18 years old - then she has a single son living in New Orleans - & one married son & one married daughter are all - 4 children are all she has living - She is a restless woman always fixing & trading - She looks young & pretty now - but takes no pains in dress - I dont think she could live a quiet life - yet she is kind & her business is upwards in her mind - Mr Patton has nothing to do with it - he is a quiet man - & they seem to get on well - you spoke of Our Cousin John James Walker does he live at the old homestead I suppose he is Uncle John's son - I have lost sight of them all -

I dont think I shall leave home this summer - I am comfortably fixed here & it is so fatigueing to me to travel in the heat & dust I have a dread of it - I have generally gone to the Sweet Springs in Va with the Beirnes - but Mr Beirnes health is so bad & he has lost his mind almost entirely & I fear will be sent to an Assylam as he gets worse -

I received a letter from your daughter in Phila & answered it - & I thought if I left home this summer or fall I would go to Phila with a little girl who lives with me & her Father & nearly all her relations are there - Her Father Mr Baily lives here but but [sic] has sold out to his partner & Helen is lame has been paralized & he may take her there to the institute - She wears a brace & has been treated there & I am not certain he will take her there before next January - so I expect to stay at home I wrote this letter last night by gaslight without glasses I hope our next trip will be to see me my love to all of your family

jr Aff cousin
M. P. Rice

I am grieved that the President should have been shot - I have not heard today how is is -Write soon Am I mistaken perhaps you did not go to the old places the weather has been very pleasant for several days -

Source:   Handwritten original in the private collection of Skip & Winston Johns.   Transcribed to softcopy by Susan D. Chambless, August 18, 2001.   




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Last modified:Sunday, 09-Nov-2003 16:33:19 MST