Letter from Nancy Whitlow Williamson of Centre, Cherokee Co., AL to her sister, Allie Whitlow Powell of Clinch Co., GA:
Centre, Alabama
November 12, 1872
Dear Sister,
I know you have come to the conclusion that I am not going to answer your letter. We received it over a month ago and would have answered it immediately but we started to Walker next morning. After we got there, we were gone two weeks. I have been so busy ever since we came back, I could not find time to write. We found all well at Pa's and all the connections well except Emily. She was lying very low with a cancer on her breast and died in a week after we left there. She told me she was perfectly willing to die and all she dreaded was leaving her little children. Ma has had another spell of sickness since we were there. We found Billy and Mat sold out and packed up ready to start to Texas. We received a letter from William stating that they got there, all were well, and met with no accidents on the road. He said Mat seemed to be in good heart. They had moved up to John's. I read a letter from John while we were at Pa's. They were all well. He wrote to Billy and Mat to come to his house. Bina, you wanted to know how I liked living in Town. I like it fine. I never was as well pleased with any place as I am with this. I have some of the best neighbors I ever lived by in my life. All I regret is being so widely separated from you and Mat. There is but three of us and it appears hard for us to be so far from each other. I have always lived in hope of us living nearer each other until now and there is no hope unless we go to Texas. Bina, if we ever go, you must persuade Bro. Powell to go too.
Bina, I would like very well to come to see you and help you drink your wine and eat your good things but cannot you come and stay two or three weeks with us? I cannot give you any wine to drink but I have some brandy peaches and they are very good. I have several kinds of preserves if you will come and spend Christmas with us, I will save some for you and will fix up more good things than you could think of in a week. Bina, I have the largest and prettiest three month old baby you ever saw. It is a larger baby than Emma was. Emma has not forgotten you and never will. She talks about you every day and has gotten to be perfectly healthy again and has growed until you would hardly know her. She is a heap of help to me. She nurses the baby and brings in all the stove wood. My chicken crop was a very sorry one this year. They all died in the Spring. William and Sue has another girl baby. It weighed 12 lbs. You must kiss your little baby for me. I would like to see it and kiss it for myself. You must write to us oftener.
Your Sister,
Nancy Williamson
P.S. We got your letter you wrote us before you left and answered it. It came back to us after you went away.
__________________________________________________________
(The bottom portion of the letter is written by Sanford Glen Williamson, husband of Nancy Whitlow Williamson)
Dear Sister Albina,
As Nanie has taken up all the evening in writing you, I will say a word or two tonight by way of apology. We ought to have waited about 3 or 4 months before we answered your letter, as you are only writing us one letter a year. I had begun to think you were never going to write to us any more, and we did not know your P.O. I hope you will do better in the future and keep us posted on your whereabouts. And, I think you will, as I understand you have a fine son, of course you will have to write to us right-often to let us know how fast it grows pretty. Come and see us this Winter and you and Nanie can compare babies and decide which is the best looking. If Bro. Powell has time when you write again, we would be pleased to hear from him. I am doing as good much for myself. Will farm on a good large scale next year. I aim to plant a cotton crop. Our State went Radical in our Gen. Election.
Your Bro.,
S. G. Williamson
__________________________________________________________
Letter from Mary Ann (Hall) Whitlow, 1st wife of John Gholston Whitlow to Rev. Thomas Wm & Allie (Whitlow) Powell, Clinch Co., GA (Allie was sister of J.G. Whitlow):
"December the 15th, 1872
Dear Brother & Sister,
As is today is racing by, I thought I will answer your most welcome letter. You must excuse me & John for not writing to you sooner. You know, Biney, it is nice that people write and it is good to hear from all of our people but it has got to be a task, you know, to keep in touch with everyone. Well, Matt & Billy live in a half a mile of us. They have a new baby. John calls their baby Toby. It is a mighty good child. Biney, I wish you and Mr. Powell would come & see us. We have bought land and have a nice farm. John is going to build next summer. We have tolerable good houses for Texas. Billy & Matt seem mighty well pleased with this western country. I feel we are settled for life. We are doing well & you know we ought to let well enought alone. I doubt I know when I will go back home on a visit. Oh! Biney, I expect things have changed a great deal since I left. Biney, it seems like it would be more than I could bare to go back home & not meet my Dear Sister but I have one bright hope laid up & that is to meet in Heaven, where parting is no more. We have good society here with preaching every Sabbath. We have good schools here, too. Texas is good country. I think I would not leave here to be no where else to live. I have good health, that makes me so well pleased. I reckon you know where a person has health, Biney, they expect to be satisfied. You would not know me now. I am fleshy & red cheeked as a girl. Nobody but me and John, only a young man we have living with us. His name is Lotspeac (?). He had a brother living in the Cove. William & Sue is all well. Sue has a fine girl. She called it after me! She claims two hundred dollars off of me for the name sake. Sally Mean married a widower man with seven children. Biney, today is mighty cold & sleeting, so you will have to over look my badly composed & written letter. I wish, Biney, you and Mr. Powell would come and take Christmas with us. I will slay the fatted calf! Billy was here this morning, says he would love to hear you laugh! I would also! Love and respect to you & Mr. Powell. Let us hear from you soon & often.
Your Sister,
Mary A. Whitlow
John will write before long."
NOTE TO READER: Mary A. Whitlow was nee' Mary Ann Hall, dau. of Rev. Carswell Hall of TN and Walker Co., GA. The Cove is McLemore's Cove, Walker Co., GA. Biney is Albina Tabitha Whitlow Powell, sister of John Gholston Whitlow. She is FAG # 100791420. She is variously referred to as: Biney, Allie and Mary in correspondence among friends and family. Mr. Powell is her husband, Rev. Thomas Wm Powell (FAG # 96147953). Billy & Matt are William H. & Martha (Whitlow) Garrett, who moved to Kennedale, Tarrant Co. TX about the same time as John & Mary Ann Whitlow. Martha (Matt) is John Gholston Whitlow's sister. William & Sue are William A. & Susan (Mann) Williamson. Wm is the brother of Sanford Glenn Williamson, of Cherokee Co., AL, who mar. Nancy Jane Whitlow, sister of John G. Whitlow & Martha Whitlow Garrett.
__________________________________________________________
Letter from Nancy Whitlow Williamson of Cedar Bluff, AL to her sister, Allie Whitlow Powell of Nashville, GA:
"Cedar Bluff, Ala.
Septem. 23rd, 1887
My dear Sister Bina,
Oh! Sister, our hearts are struck with grief to learn that Bro. Powell is no longer of this world. Although we long knew the gravity of his affliction, a person is never ready for such sad news. I prayed for so long that God would spare him, if only for your sake. But, alas! He knows best. Bro. Powell truly was the angel sent by God to live amongst us. Oh, Bina, why are we cursed with sickness and death? There has been aplenty of it in our country & too back in the Cove. Why must this be? We can only hope to gather where no tear is shed. I can still hear Bro. Powell's sweet voice ringing out. I dreamt of you and he coming up the road laughing and waving not a night before your letter & now I weep to think he is no more. We must take solace in knowing that he rests in the midst of the heavenly saints. How many times Bro. Powell has preached that & now we must cling to it as truth. I know it is not your nature, Bina, but you must now take concern with your health for the sake of your children. Take your ease if you can, after this long trial. I know nursing Bro. Powell and your baby was about all you can bear. We were making a start to Walker when your black letter of the 5th ult. reached our hand. And so we had the mean task of delivering the news to relations there. We went down to Mercer's and he and Glenn drove on to Burning Bush to tell Bro. Russell as you requested. Cousin Mercer will tell all down at Waterville Sunday next. I am glad you wrote some. You asked what accommodations could be fashioned in Walker if you sold out. Glenn & Mercer & Tobe all said they would come down to move you up if you desire. You only need let them know. I know you have connections there, Bina, but you still have good friends and family amongst us in these mountains. Ma says you are welcome to move up to her old place if it suits you. Bina, the fresh mountain air might revive your spirits. You must be wilting in the heat. This country will be a cool respite for you. Come and let us comfort you, Sister. Tobe will slaughter in a few weeks so the smoke house will be chock full. Suge's kitchen garden has growed the largest tomatos I ever seen. Oh, do come, Bina, if only for a visit. The boys can take care of your affairs there. Ma can not wait to see the red hair on that baby girl. Write and tell us when you will arrive & Glen & I will come up. We send our love and deep sympathy. Do not put this letter down without writing your true Sister back.
I sign myself,
Your devoted sister,
Nanie
(Written by Nancy Whitlow Williamson of Cherokee Co., AL.)
Centre, Alabama
November 12, 1872
Dear Sister,
I know you have come to the conclusion that I am not going to answer your letter. We received it over a month ago and would have answered it immediately but we started to Walker next morning. After we got there, we were gone two weeks. I have been so busy ever since we came back, I could not find time to write. We found all well at Pa's and all the connections well except Emily. She was lying very low with a cancer on her breast and died in a week after we left there. She told me she was perfectly willing to die and all she dreaded was leaving her little children. Ma has had another spell of sickness since we were there. We found Billy and Mat sold out and packed up ready to start to Texas. We received a letter from William stating that they got there, all were well, and met with no accidents on the road. He said Mat seemed to be in good heart. They had moved up to John's. I read a letter from John while we were at Pa's. They were all well. He wrote to Billy and Mat to come to his house. Bina, you wanted to know how I liked living in Town. I like it fine. I never was as well pleased with any place as I am with this. I have some of the best neighbors I ever lived by in my life. All I regret is being so widely separated from you and Mat. There is but three of us and it appears hard for us to be so far from each other. I have always lived in hope of us living nearer each other until now and there is no hope unless we go to Texas. Bina, if we ever go, you must persuade Bro. Powell to go too.
Bina, I would like very well to come to see you and help you drink your wine and eat your good things but cannot you come and stay two or three weeks with us? I cannot give you any wine to drink but I have some brandy peaches and they are very good. I have several kinds of preserves if you will come and spend Christmas with us, I will save some for you and will fix up more good things than you could think of in a week. Bina, I have the largest and prettiest three month old baby you ever saw. It is a larger baby than Emma was. Emma has not forgotten you and never will. She talks about you every day and has gotten to be perfectly healthy again and has growed until you would hardly know her. She is a heap of help to me. She nurses the baby and brings in all the stove wood. My chicken crop was a very sorry one this year. They all died in the Spring. William and Sue has another girl baby. It weighed 12 lbs. You must kiss your little baby for me. I would like to see it and kiss it for myself. You must write to us oftener.
Your Sister,
Nancy Williamson
P.S. We got your letter you wrote us before you left and answered it. It came back to us after you went away.
__________________________________________________________
(The bottom portion of the letter is written by Sanford Glen Williamson, husband of Nancy Whitlow Williamson)
Dear Sister Albina,
As Nanie has taken up all the evening in writing you, I will say a word or two tonight by way of apology. We ought to have waited about 3 or 4 months before we answered your letter, as you are only writing us one letter a year. I had begun to think you were never going to write to us any more, and we did not know your P.O. I hope you will do better in the future and keep us posted on your whereabouts. And, I think you will, as I understand you have a fine son, of course you will have to write to us right-often to let us know how fast it grows pretty. Come and see us this Winter and you and Nanie can compare babies and decide which is the best looking. If Bro. Powell has time when you write again, we would be pleased to hear from him. I am doing as good much for myself. Will farm on a good large scale next year. I aim to plant a cotton crop. Our State went Radical in our Gen. Election.
Your Bro.,
S. G. Williamson
__________________________________________________________
Letter from Mary Ann (Hall) Whitlow, 1st wife of John Gholston Whitlow to Rev. Thomas Wm & Allie (Whitlow) Powell, Clinch Co., GA (Allie was sister of J.G. Whitlow):
"December the 15th, 1872
Dear Brother & Sister,
As is today is racing by, I thought I will answer your most welcome letter. You must excuse me & John for not writing to you sooner. You know, Biney, it is nice that people write and it is good to hear from all of our people but it has got to be a task, you know, to keep in touch with everyone. Well, Matt & Billy live in a half a mile of us. They have a new baby. John calls their baby Toby. It is a mighty good child. Biney, I wish you and Mr. Powell would come & see us. We have bought land and have a nice farm. John is going to build next summer. We have tolerable good houses for Texas. Billy & Matt seem mighty well pleased with this western country. I feel we are settled for life. We are doing well & you know we ought to let well enought alone. I doubt I know when I will go back home on a visit. Oh! Biney, I expect things have changed a great deal since I left. Biney, it seems like it would be more than I could bare to go back home & not meet my Dear Sister but I have one bright hope laid up & that is to meet in Heaven, where parting is no more. We have good society here with preaching every Sabbath. We have good schools here, too. Texas is good country. I think I would not leave here to be no where else to live. I have good health, that makes me so well pleased. I reckon you know where a person has health, Biney, they expect to be satisfied. You would not know me now. I am fleshy & red cheeked as a girl. Nobody but me and John, only a young man we have living with us. His name is Lotspeac (?). He had a brother living in the Cove. William & Sue is all well. Sue has a fine girl. She called it after me! She claims two hundred dollars off of me for the name sake. Sally Mean married a widower man with seven children. Biney, today is mighty cold & sleeting, so you will have to over look my badly composed & written letter. I wish, Biney, you and Mr. Powell would come and take Christmas with us. I will slay the fatted calf! Billy was here this morning, says he would love to hear you laugh! I would also! Love and respect to you & Mr. Powell. Let us hear from you soon & often.
Your Sister,
Mary A. Whitlow
John will write before long."
NOTE TO READER: Mary A. Whitlow was nee' Mary Ann Hall, dau. of Rev. Carswell Hall of TN and Walker Co., GA. The Cove is McLemore's Cove, Walker Co., GA. Biney is Albina Tabitha Whitlow Powell, sister of John Gholston Whitlow. She is FAG # 100791420. She is variously referred to as: Biney, Allie and Mary in correspondence among friends and family. Mr. Powell is her husband, Rev. Thomas Wm Powell (FAG # 96147953). Billy & Matt are William H. & Martha (Whitlow) Garrett, who moved to Kennedale, Tarrant Co. TX about the same time as John & Mary Ann Whitlow. Martha (Matt) is John Gholston Whitlow's sister. William & Sue are William A. & Susan (Mann) Williamson. Wm is the brother of Sanford Glenn Williamson, of Cherokee Co., AL, who mar. Nancy Jane Whitlow, sister of John G. Whitlow & Martha Whitlow Garrett.
__________________________________________________________
Letter from Nancy Whitlow Williamson of Cedar Bluff, AL to her sister, Allie Whitlow Powell of Nashville, GA:
"Cedar Bluff, Ala.
Septem. 23rd, 1887
My dear Sister Bina,
Oh! Sister, our hearts are struck with grief to learn that Bro. Powell is no longer of this world. Although we long knew the gravity of his affliction, a person is never ready for such sad news. I prayed for so long that God would spare him, if only for your sake. But, alas! He knows best. Bro. Powell truly was the angel sent by God to live amongst us. Oh, Bina, why are we cursed with sickness and death? There has been aplenty of it in our country & too back in the Cove. Why must this be? We can only hope to gather where no tear is shed. I can still hear Bro. Powell's sweet voice ringing out. I dreamt of you and he coming up the road laughing and waving not a night before your letter & now I weep to think he is no more. We must take solace in knowing that he rests in the midst of the heavenly saints. How many times Bro. Powell has preached that & now we must cling to it as truth. I know it is not your nature, Bina, but you must now take concern with your health for the sake of your children. Take your ease if you can, after this long trial. I know nursing Bro. Powell and your baby was about all you can bear. We were making a start to Walker when your black letter of the 5th ult. reached our hand. And so we had the mean task of delivering the news to relations there. We went down to Mercer's and he and Glenn drove on to Burning Bush to tell Bro. Russell as you requested. Cousin Mercer will tell all down at Waterville Sunday next. I am glad you wrote some. You asked what accommodations could be fashioned in Walker if you sold out. Glenn & Mercer & Tobe all said they would come down to move you up if you desire. You only need let them know. I know you have connections there, Bina, but you still have good friends and family amongst us in these mountains. Ma says you are welcome to move up to her old place if it suits you. Bina, the fresh mountain air might revive your spirits. You must be wilting in the heat. This country will be a cool respite for you. Come and let us comfort you, Sister. Tobe will slaughter in a few weeks so the smoke house will be chock full. Suge's kitchen garden has growed the largest tomatos I ever seen. Oh, do come, Bina, if only for a visit. The boys can take care of your affairs there. Ma can not wait to see the red hair on that baby girl. Write and tell us when you will arrive & Glen & I will come up. We send our love and deep sympathy. Do not put this letter down without writing your true Sister back.
I sign myself,
Your devoted sister,
Nanie
(Written by Nancy Whitlow Williamson of Cherokee Co., AL.)
Letter from Nancy Whitlow Williamson of Centre, Cherokee Co., AL to her sister, Allie Whitlow Powell of Clinch Co., GA:
Centre, Alabama
November 12, 1872
Dear Sister,
I know you have come to the conclusion that I am not going to answer your letter. We received it over a month ago and would have answered it immediately but we started to Walker next morning. After we got there, we were gone two weeks. I have been so busy ever since we came back, I could not find time to write. We found all well at Pa's and all the connections well except Emily. She was lying very low with a cancer on her breast and died in a week after we left there. She told me she was perfectly willing to die and all she dreaded was leaving her little children. Ma has had another spell of sickness since we were there. We found Billy and Mat sold out and packed up ready to start to Texas. We received a letter from William stating that they got there, all were well, and met with no accidents on the road. He said Mat seemed to be in good heart. They had moved up to John's. I read a letter from John while we were at Pa's. They were all well. He wrote to Billy and Mat to come to his house. Bina, you wanted to know how I liked living in Town. I like it fine. I never was as well pleased with any place as I am with this. I have some of the best neighbors I ever lived by in my life. All I regret is being so widely separated from you and Mat. There is but three of us and it appears hard for us to be so far from each other. I have always lived in hope of us living nearer each other until now and there is no hope unless we go to Texas. Bina, if we ever go, you must persuade Bro. Powell to go too.
Bina, I would like very well to come to see you and help you drink your wine and eat your good things but cannot you come and stay two or three weeks with us? I cannot give you any wine to drink but I have some brandy peaches and they are very good. I have several kinds of preserves if you will come and spend Christmas with us, I will save some for you and will fix up more good things than you could think of in a week. Bina, I have the largest and prettiest three month old baby you ever saw. It is a larger baby than Emma was. Emma has not forgotten you and never will. She talks about you every day and has gotten to be perfectly healthy again and has growed until you would hardly know her. She is a heap of help to me. She nurses the baby and brings in all the stove wood. My chicken crop was a very sorry one this year. They all died in the Spring. William and Sue has another girl baby. It weighed 12 lbs. You must kiss your little baby for me. I would like to see it and kiss it for myself. You must write to us oftener.
Your Sister,
Nancy Williamson
P.S. We got your letter you wrote us before you left and answered it. It came back to us after you went away.
__________________________________________________________
(The bottom portion of the letter is written by Sanford Glen Williamson, husband of Nancy Whitlow Williamson)
Dear Sister Albina,
As Nanie has taken up all the evening in writing you, I will say a word or two tonight by way of apology. We ought to have waited about 3 or 4 months before we answered your letter, as you are only writing us one letter a year. I had begun to think you were never going to write to us any more, and we did not know your P.O. I hope you will do better in the future and keep us posted on your whereabouts. And, I think you will, as I understand you have a fine son, of course you will have to write to us right-often to let us know how fast it grows pretty. Come and see us this Winter and you and Nanie can compare babies and decide which is the best looking. If Bro. Powell has time when you write again, we would be pleased to hear from him. I am doing as good much for myself. Will farm on a good large scale next year. I aim to plant a cotton crop. Our State went Radical in our Gen. Election.
Your Bro.,
S. G. Williamson
__________________________________________________________
Letter from Mary Ann (Hall) Whitlow, 1st wife of John Gholston Whitlow to Rev. Thomas Wm & Allie (Whitlow) Powell, Clinch Co., GA (Allie was sister of J.G. Whitlow):
"December the 15th, 1872
Dear Brother & Sister,
As is today is racing by, I thought I will answer your most welcome letter. You must excuse me & John for not writing to you sooner. You know, Biney, it is nice that people write and it is good to hear from all of our people but it has got to be a task, you know, to keep in touch with everyone. Well, Matt & Billy live in a half a mile of us. They have a new baby. John calls their baby Toby. It is a mighty good child. Biney, I wish you and Mr. Powell would come & see us. We have bought land and have a nice farm. John is going to build next summer. We have tolerable good houses for Texas. Billy & Matt seem mighty well pleased with this western country. I feel we are settled for life. We are doing well & you know we ought to let well enought alone. I doubt I know when I will go back home on a visit. Oh! Biney, I expect things have changed a great deal since I left. Biney, it seems like it would be more than I could bare to go back home & not meet my Dear Sister but I have one bright hope laid up & that is to meet in Heaven, where parting is no more. We have good society here with preaching every Sabbath. We have good schools here, too. Texas is good country. I think I would not leave here to be no where else to live. I have good health, that makes me so well pleased. I reckon you know where a person has health, Biney, they expect to be satisfied. You would not know me now. I am fleshy & red cheeked as a girl. Nobody but me and John, only a young man we have living with us. His name is Lotspeac (?). He had a brother living in the Cove. William & Sue is all well. Sue has a fine girl. She called it after me! She claims two hundred dollars off of me for the name sake. Sally Mean married a widower man with seven children. Biney, today is mighty cold & sleeting, so you will have to over look my badly composed & written letter. I wish, Biney, you and Mr. Powell would come and take Christmas with us. I will slay the fatted calf! Billy was here this morning, says he would love to hear you laugh! I would also! Love and respect to you & Mr. Powell. Let us hear from you soon & often.
Your Sister,
Mary A. Whitlow
John will write before long."
NOTE TO READER: Mary A. Whitlow was nee' Mary Ann Hall, dau. of Rev. Carswell Hall of TN and Walker Co., GA. The Cove is McLemore's Cove, Walker Co., GA. Biney is Albina Tabitha Whitlow Powell, sister of John Gholston Whitlow. She is FAG # 100791420. She is variously referred to as: Biney, Allie and Mary in correspondence among friends and family. Mr. Powell is her husband, Rev. Thomas Wm Powell (FAG # 96147953). Billy & Matt are William H. & Martha (Whitlow) Garrett, who moved to Kennedale, Tarrant Co. TX about the same time as John & Mary Ann Whitlow. Martha (Matt) is John Gholston Whitlow's sister. William & Sue are William A. & Susan (Mann) Williamson. Wm is the brother of Sanford Glenn Williamson, of Cherokee Co., AL, who mar. Nancy Jane Whitlow, sister of John G. Whitlow & Martha Whitlow Garrett.
__________________________________________________________
Letter from Nancy Whitlow Williamson of Cedar Bluff, AL to her sister, Allie Whitlow Powell of Nashville, GA:
"Cedar Bluff, Ala.
Septem. 23rd, 1887
My dear Sister Bina,
Oh! Sister, our hearts are struck with grief to learn that Bro. Powell is no longer of this world. Although we long knew the gravity of his affliction, a person is never ready for such sad news. I prayed for so long that God would spare him, if only for your sake. But, alas! He knows best. Bro. Powell truly was the angel sent by God to live amongst us. Oh, Bina, why are we cursed with sickness and death? There has been aplenty of it in our country & too back in the Cove. Why must this be? We can only hope to gather where no tear is shed. I can still hear Bro. Powell's sweet voice ringing out. I dreamt of you and he coming up the road laughing and waving not a night before your letter & now I weep to think he is no more. We must take solace in knowing that he rests in the midst of the heavenly saints. How many times Bro. Powell has preached that & now we must cling to it as truth. I know it is not your nature, Bina, but you must now take concern with your health for the sake of your children. Take your ease if you can, after this long trial. I know nursing Bro. Powell and your baby was about all you can bear. We were making a start to Walker when your black letter of the 5th ult. reached our hand. And so we had the mean task of delivering the news to relations there. We went down to Mercer's and he and Glenn drove on to Burning Bush to tell Bro. Russell as you requested. Cousin Mercer will tell all down at Waterville Sunday next. I am glad you wrote some. You asked what accommodations could be fashioned in Walker if you sold out. Glenn & Mercer & Tobe all said they would come down to move you up if you desire. You only need let them know. I know you have connections there, Bina, but you still have good friends and family amongst us in these mountains. Ma says you are welcome to move up to her old place if it suits you. Bina, the fresh mountain air might revive your spirits. You must be wilting in the heat. This country will be a cool respite for you. Come and let us comfort you, Sister. Tobe will slaughter in a few weeks so the smoke house will be chock full. Suge's kitchen garden has growed the largest tomatos I ever seen. Oh, do come, Bina, if only for a visit. The boys can take care of your affairs there. Ma can not wait to see the red hair on that baby girl. Write and tell us when you will arrive & Glen & I will come up. We send our love and deep sympathy. Do not put this letter down without writing your true Sister back.
I sign myself,
Your devoted sister,
Nanie
(Written by Nancy Whitlow Williamson of Cherokee Co., AL.)
Centre, Alabama
November 12, 1872
Dear Sister,
I know you have come to the conclusion that I am not going to answer your letter. We received it over a month ago and would have answered it immediately but we started to Walker next morning. After we got there, we were gone two weeks. I have been so busy ever since we came back, I could not find time to write. We found all well at Pa's and all the connections well except Emily. She was lying very low with a cancer on her breast and died in a week after we left there. She told me she was perfectly willing to die and all she dreaded was leaving her little children. Ma has had another spell of sickness since we were there. We found Billy and Mat sold out and packed up ready to start to Texas. We received a letter from William stating that they got there, all were well, and met with no accidents on the road. He said Mat seemed to be in good heart. They had moved up to John's. I read a letter from John while we were at Pa's. They were all well. He wrote to Billy and Mat to come to his house. Bina, you wanted to know how I liked living in Town. I like it fine. I never was as well pleased with any place as I am with this. I have some of the best neighbors I ever lived by in my life. All I regret is being so widely separated from you and Mat. There is but three of us and it appears hard for us to be so far from each other. I have always lived in hope of us living nearer each other until now and there is no hope unless we go to Texas. Bina, if we ever go, you must persuade Bro. Powell to go too.
Bina, I would like very well to come to see you and help you drink your wine and eat your good things but cannot you come and stay two or three weeks with us? I cannot give you any wine to drink but I have some brandy peaches and they are very good. I have several kinds of preserves if you will come and spend Christmas with us, I will save some for you and will fix up more good things than you could think of in a week. Bina, I have the largest and prettiest three month old baby you ever saw. It is a larger baby than Emma was. Emma has not forgotten you and never will. She talks about you every day and has gotten to be perfectly healthy again and has growed until you would hardly know her. She is a heap of help to me. She nurses the baby and brings in all the stove wood. My chicken crop was a very sorry one this year. They all died in the Spring. William and Sue has another girl baby. It weighed 12 lbs. You must kiss your little baby for me. I would like to see it and kiss it for myself. You must write to us oftener.
Your Sister,
Nancy Williamson
P.S. We got your letter you wrote us before you left and answered it. It came back to us after you went away.
__________________________________________________________
(The bottom portion of the letter is written by Sanford Glen Williamson, husband of Nancy Whitlow Williamson)
Dear Sister Albina,
As Nanie has taken up all the evening in writing you, I will say a word or two tonight by way of apology. We ought to have waited about 3 or 4 months before we answered your letter, as you are only writing us one letter a year. I had begun to think you were never going to write to us any more, and we did not know your P.O. I hope you will do better in the future and keep us posted on your whereabouts. And, I think you will, as I understand you have a fine son, of course you will have to write to us right-often to let us know how fast it grows pretty. Come and see us this Winter and you and Nanie can compare babies and decide which is the best looking. If Bro. Powell has time when you write again, we would be pleased to hear from him. I am doing as good much for myself. Will farm on a good large scale next year. I aim to plant a cotton crop. Our State went Radical in our Gen. Election.
Your Bro.,
S. G. Williamson
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Letter from Mary Ann (Hall) Whitlow, 1st wife of John Gholston Whitlow to Rev. Thomas Wm & Allie (Whitlow) Powell, Clinch Co., GA (Allie was sister of J.G. Whitlow):
"December the 15th, 1872
Dear Brother & Sister,
As is today is racing by, I thought I will answer your most welcome letter. You must excuse me & John for not writing to you sooner. You know, Biney, it is nice that people write and it is good to hear from all of our people but it has got to be a task, you know, to keep in touch with everyone. Well, Matt & Billy live in a half a mile of us. They have a new baby. John calls their baby Toby. It is a mighty good child. Biney, I wish you and Mr. Powell would come & see us. We have bought land and have a nice farm. John is going to build next summer. We have tolerable good houses for Texas. Billy & Matt seem mighty well pleased with this western country. I feel we are settled for life. We are doing well & you know we ought to let well enought alone. I doubt I know when I will go back home on a visit. Oh! Biney, I expect things have changed a great deal since I left. Biney, it seems like it would be more than I could bare to go back home & not meet my Dear Sister but I have one bright hope laid up & that is to meet in Heaven, where parting is no more. We have good society here with preaching every Sabbath. We have good schools here, too. Texas is good country. I think I would not leave here to be no where else to live. I have good health, that makes me so well pleased. I reckon you know where a person has health, Biney, they expect to be satisfied. You would not know me now. I am fleshy & red cheeked as a girl. Nobody but me and John, only a young man we have living with us. His name is Lotspeac (?). He had a brother living in the Cove. William & Sue is all well. Sue has a fine girl. She called it after me! She claims two hundred dollars off of me for the name sake. Sally Mean married a widower man with seven children. Biney, today is mighty cold & sleeting, so you will have to over look my badly composed & written letter. I wish, Biney, you and Mr. Powell would come and take Christmas with us. I will slay the fatted calf! Billy was here this morning, says he would love to hear you laugh! I would also! Love and respect to you & Mr. Powell. Let us hear from you soon & often.
Your Sister,
Mary A. Whitlow
John will write before long."
NOTE TO READER: Mary A. Whitlow was nee' Mary Ann Hall, dau. of Rev. Carswell Hall of TN and Walker Co., GA. The Cove is McLemore's Cove, Walker Co., GA. Biney is Albina Tabitha Whitlow Powell, sister of John Gholston Whitlow. She is FAG # 100791420. She is variously referred to as: Biney, Allie and Mary in correspondence among friends and family. Mr. Powell is her husband, Rev. Thomas Wm Powell (FAG # 96147953). Billy & Matt are William H. & Martha (Whitlow) Garrett, who moved to Kennedale, Tarrant Co. TX about the same time as John & Mary Ann Whitlow. Martha (Matt) is John Gholston Whitlow's sister. William & Sue are William A. & Susan (Mann) Williamson. Wm is the brother of Sanford Glenn Williamson, of Cherokee Co., AL, who mar. Nancy Jane Whitlow, sister of John G. Whitlow & Martha Whitlow Garrett.
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Letter from Nancy Whitlow Williamson of Cedar Bluff, AL to her sister, Allie Whitlow Powell of Nashville, GA:
"Cedar Bluff, Ala.
Septem. 23rd, 1887
My dear Sister Bina,
Oh! Sister, our hearts are struck with grief to learn that Bro. Powell is no longer of this world. Although we long knew the gravity of his affliction, a person is never ready for such sad news. I prayed for so long that God would spare him, if only for your sake. But, alas! He knows best. Bro. Powell truly was the angel sent by God to live amongst us. Oh, Bina, why are we cursed with sickness and death? There has been aplenty of it in our country & too back in the Cove. Why must this be? We can only hope to gather where no tear is shed. I can still hear Bro. Powell's sweet voice ringing out. I dreamt of you and he coming up the road laughing and waving not a night before your letter & now I weep to think he is no more. We must take solace in knowing that he rests in the midst of the heavenly saints. How many times Bro. Powell has preached that & now we must cling to it as truth. I know it is not your nature, Bina, but you must now take concern with your health for the sake of your children. Take your ease if you can, after this long trial. I know nursing Bro. Powell and your baby was about all you can bear. We were making a start to Walker when your black letter of the 5th ult. reached our hand. And so we had the mean task of delivering the news to relations there. We went down to Mercer's and he and Glenn drove on to Burning Bush to tell Bro. Russell as you requested. Cousin Mercer will tell all down at Waterville Sunday next. I am glad you wrote some. You asked what accommodations could be fashioned in Walker if you sold out. Glenn & Mercer & Tobe all said they would come down to move you up if you desire. You only need let them know. I know you have connections there, Bina, but you still have good friends and family amongst us in these mountains. Ma says you are welcome to move up to her old place if it suits you. Bina, the fresh mountain air might revive your spirits. You must be wilting in the heat. This country will be a cool respite for you. Come and let us comfort you, Sister. Tobe will slaughter in a few weeks so the smoke house will be chock full. Suge's kitchen garden has growed the largest tomatos I ever seen. Oh, do come, Bina, if only for a visit. The boys can take care of your affairs there. Ma can not wait to see the red hair on that baby girl. Write and tell us when you will arrive & Glen & I will come up. We send our love and deep sympathy. Do not put this letter down without writing your true Sister back.
I sign myself,
Your devoted sister,
Nanie
(Written by Nancy Whitlow Williamson of Cherokee Co., AL.)
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