A letter written by Joel Culpepper of Cherokee Co. AL; Culpepper, Joel & Ann Elizabeth's letters to their daughter, Eliza Ann & William Jackson Ash
Written May 13th, 1849
On the outside was written: "Ringgold Ala May 19th 10
William Jackson Ash
Illinois Addams County Quincy
Also on outside "Received the 8th of June 1849"
State of Allabma Cherokee County
Dear son and Daughter I embrace this opportunity to
Inform you that we are all in tollerable good health at
This time by the great Mercies of God and hoping these
lines will find you enjoying the same blesing of God John
T. Culpeper and family is all well except Melvinia she
is poorly Rufus M. Baker and family is well Ambrose
K. Langford and Mary Ann was well two weeks ago they
Were here Mr. Clayton and family is well we Receiv'd
two letters from you one since you got home which was
a great satisfaction to here you was well thare has
been a cold bad spring here on the 16th of April there was
frost that killed Corn Cotton and wheat here and all through
the state which will make corn deare and high Arminda and
myself went to Tallerga [?] to Mr. Wm Jenkinis I
brought a small Negro girl with us for Arminda
and we were treated very kindly by Mr. Jenkins and his
Wife I Commec'd teaching scholl the 7th day of May
which was the first Monday in May and I expect to
try to go on with it for five months ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬summer we want
you write to us as often as you can we have not heard any
thing from Tennessee since you left here so no more
at present but remains your Loving Parents Brother
and Scistors till death
May 13th 1849 Joel Culpeper Senr.
Ann Elizabeth Culpeper
---------------------------------
Letter of June the 2nd 1850
On the outside of the folded letter: Ringgold Ala 10
June 7th~50
William J. Ash
Illinois Hancock County
Worsaw P. O. 1850
State of Allabama Cherokee County
Dear Son and Daughter, I Take this oppor=
= tunity of informing you that we are enjoying tollerable
good health at this time through the great mercies of
God and all the Connections as fair as we know and
hope thes lines may find you enjoying the same bless
-ing of God We receiv'd yours Friday last which gave
us great Satisfaction to here you was well and doing
well and that you Eliza was Satisfied with your lot
in life as for mine it has always been hard and no appear
=ance of being any better Benjamin has bought 40 Acres
of Land of Athen Cannon of the same lot that Miss Slougn(?)
lives on
We have built a Cabben on it and is living in it and
has clear'd ten Acres on it and has just planted it the
land that was Clear'd we sow'd Oats we have not heard
from the Boys in Tennessee lately the last we heard
they were all well I wrote to you last February we
receiv'd a letter from you when your Mother was
lying very low with a Bowel complaint at that time
lasted eight days though She has got tollerable harty again
A.K. Langford and Mary Ann was here at that time
and Mary had a fine harty Daughter with her about one
year old now nam'd Sarah Elizabeth Collins Lang
=ford and family with several other familys started to
Texas last Winter and Benjamin Ash with them Mr.
Petigrews family is well as fair as we know you wanted
to know about your Scistor I cannot inform you nothing
only she has a fine Child Mr. Clayton and Family is
well and all with them yet Hardy Kernant is living
whare we Liv'd and Manervy has a fine Son it has been
a warm wet Winter here and a wet backward spring
that crops is late wheat is only tollerable a complent of
Rust on the Wheat Oats looks very well Cotton is very
indifferent in consiguence of wet and cold corn is worth
from 40 to fifty Cents pr Bushel Mr. Newman and Fami
=ly is well and all at home yet it is generly healthy here
There was a very heavy Storm about here some few
Weeks ago and blow'd almost all the trees down at the Methodist
Camp ground Arminda Prather has got to be the
largest of any of our Family and her Negroe girl Caroline is
a pert livly little girl about Eleven years old Landon Drake
and Hannah was Married a few weeks ago it is rather dry at this
time [handwriting changes at this point] I think Jane must put in a letter
Eliza I was glad you yet remember
me and I have taken your advice to not
take any sort Eliza ___? the girls
has got to smart to marry since
you left thear is such a out come
them all and I am doing the best I can
I want to know if you intend to
come to see us or not I am going to
see my brothers in a short time
how long I will be gone I cannot tell
I want you to write me one letter
as soon you get this write all
know and more two and how you are
sadisfide with your lot in life
I want to know what sart of work
you follow in that Country
Maria Jane Culpep [edge of paper]
[handwriting changes back to Joel's]
N. B. We wish to see you but that we never expect to see you in
this life for we are wearing away as fast as time can move and
Agreeable to the course of nature we cannot live much longer so
let us here from you as often as you can remember us to Mr. Jones
the Elder and all enquireing friends if any so no more at pre-
-sent but we all join in love to you as Parents Brothers
and Scistors till death . Joel Culpeper Senr.
June the 2nd 1850 Ann Elizbeth Culpeper.1