aaa-0701.html
Reuben Jefferson Finley Letter to Isaac Newton Finley
Osage AR March 28th 1857
Mr. I. N. FINLEY my dear brother &all your family & enquiring friends
This Saturday morning finds us all in good health except sore eyes and bad colds and I do hope
these lines may find you all in the enjoyment of good health, your letter of the 23rd FEB came to
hand, the 24th last?, which afforded me great satisfaction to hear from you Once more in life I had
bin booking for letters so much and so long that when at the first glance of my name on the
envelop I was then glad just at the sight of a brothers hand wright. it was so familiar that I had to
wipe my eyes a little then and when I got home they was all gone to bed and it was not long until
the children all understood that I had a letter from Uncle Newton they all got up and I
commenced reading and it was not long till we was crying and the Blessed little children cried to
and when I had finished reading Handy? looked as if her heart was broke ..? says bless my good
Uncle Newton I knowed that he would send us a good letter for used to give me chesnuts.
I can't interest? you as you did ?? Hendon? for things hear will not interest you as things their do me I will have to wright as it comes in my mind and as this is ..?.. on mind is that of Rufus getting hurt. Rufus Uncle Jeff was very sorry to hear of your getting so bad hurt but we are all liable to accidents hear in this world of sorrow be a good boy and keep in mind the dying words of your good old granmother FINLEY. She requested you and all her gran children to meet her in heaven and don't think?? ...?.. all you will see there go to the graveyard that I visited this day 6 months ago and there you will see the grave of a mother and little sister and an aunt and Rufus go to Goodbar (Cem.?) and there you will see the little Red mound? over aunt Henny which we think are all in heaven to day interseeding for us and we think by faith we see them beconing their hands for us to come their two Newton go to our family grave yard and get right at the foot of mother and give her grave one hasty look for Jeff for I put her blessed feet in her coffin, wait now till I wipe out my eyes I have wiped my eyes now Newton wipe your eyes and I have recd. 3 letters from Tenn, 2 from Ahi [Ahi DECK?] and one from you, you said Granville had wrote one to me but I have never got it you wrote that F.?H.? FINLEY was nearly bedfast with Texas Fever-every man should do what he thinks best but I wish that you and Granville and Ahi & Bob could all be content their for moving is not the thing that is is crack up to be if a man is find to half time? in Tenn he thinks he could do better some whare else and by the time you or G.N would go to Texas and be sick half your time and get fixt to live again you would then have to die and your children perhaps would be no better satisfied than if in Tenn, Thare is more ?ooty diseases hear in this western country than you ever seen don't think that new ...?... are all that has sickness hear if you do you are foold people that has bin born and raised hear as sickly as any if I had the old place back and was just as well ..?.. as was ARK Texas could not induce me to move again for I would just as soon have one dollar. their as $1.50 hear you may have the money hear and can't get half what a family ..?.. with should have now believe me for I am ..?ing the Black Out
I want G.N. to wright to me as soon as this comes to hand and not fail and let me no for certain whether he will move or not the health of this country is not very good Col. Mathis HOLFORD has lost 5 negroes Since I came and 2 of his children with Tyfoid Fever, the 5 black said to be worth $6000. Mr. Syrus Riggs lost his wife Old Aunt Polly Gardenshire is ded and I herd that at Berryville about 18 miles? from me that is where HOLEFORD lives that there was for the last week 4 coffins maid a day during the week I must soon close for I have the headache Old mother WALKER is very unwell. I don't think she will live long and the old man shakes his head off ...?... with the agew The children all sends their best wishes to you and Uncle Granville and Aunt M.S?. and all their cousins Newton can walk no money hear corn is worth 50 cts wheat 75 horses from 15-100 cows and calves 12 to 15 oxen and yoke from 40-65 Buck & Ben is pretty near fat? wright soon as I am anxious to hear from you all Farewell give my respect to faimly & relatives and friends
let R.N? read this letter I yet remain your brother
and Jane K. Finley From R.J. FINLEY
To I. H. FINLEY & Family
& Family
Transcribed by Vangee Brigham
Date: Tue, 07 Oct 1997
Subject: 28 MAR 1857 R.J.FINLEY Letter to I.N. FINLEY
c:\docs\arkansas/reuben4
aaa0701