1866_9_10
Home.
Lebanon,
Russell Co., Virginia
September
10th
1866
My
Dear “Dark”[1]
I
wrote to you for Clara[2] several months
ago
but we have heard nothing from you since. I know
you
are anxious to hear all the news we have in Russell
and
I will not wait longer to write. Charlie & Mary
Fulton[3] were married in June. We gave a big Party
here
a few days after the wedding. I wrote to you
to
come out to it and was sorry you were not here.
The
house was full for two nights & a day. We did
not
ask any body about here but Kate Wagoner[4]. She
was
here the night of the Party and looked mighty nice.
We
have had a door cut in the little room, over the old
dining
room leading into the passage in the min.[?] stairs.
We
had a carpet made for it and the bride & groom
stayed
in it when they were over. Aunt Nance &
Ib
were here helping in the kitchen. Sallie[5] & I went
over
to the wedding and I waited on them. Every
Young
lady & gentleman in Abingdon came home
with
us to the “Infair”. Soon after the Party here
sister
Marge[6] went home and had a son. She was dread-
ful
sick and her baby was dead born. It was a fine
large
boy. We thought for a long time Sister Marge
would
die. Sallie, Mother & myself were all there
while
she was sick. Cousin John & Mag[7] are both very
Page
2 of original letter
much
distressed at the loss of their baby. It would have
been
named “William A Stuart” if it had lived.
Miss
Pug Leece[8] married Mr Sando[9] from Abingdon
she
was married one morning soon at Sam Leece’s[10] &
went
to Abingdon that day. People think she has done
very
well. She did not have any wedding.
Alice Dotson[11] married one of
Bone Gray’s sons[12] last
week.
Mattie Aston[13] & Ike Vermillion’s son ran
away
and married about six weeks ago. Hopkins &
his
wife[14] came up to see us not long ago and stayed
all
night. They are living out in Wise. Israel[14] & his
wife
live with them. Israel has a child named Eliza.
Lizzy
Wagoner[15] & Frank Bickley are living up above
town.
They are doing well, but from all accounts will
have
to look around for a cradle soon.
Holden
Davis'[16] wife has a nigro child and old Davis
gave
lb & Dave Leece[17] a cow & calf to take &
raise
it as their own.
Aunt Margaret Lampkins[18]
&
Mary Lizz came out from Lynchburg and
stayed
several weeks. They were here about a week
Aunt
Margaret fell one day while she was at Uncle
Henry’s[19]
& broke her arm. It did not get well before
she
went home. Miss Lucy Dennis[20] and a lady from
Richmond
came down and spent a week with us
not
long ago. They are nice ladies. Martha Jessee[21]
that
used to belong to Jeff Jessee is our cook. Ive
have
a white girl to do the house work and get
along
very well. I get my clothes done up
tol-
Page
3 of original letter
erably
well, but always wish for some of your
washing
when I get on a big dike.
Mrs.
Giltner[22] writes to us some times. She is at
home.
The baby[23] that was born soon after she left
here
died not long ago with whooping cough. They
were
much distressed at its death. In Mrs. Giltner's
last
letter she said Giddy[24] got on the arm of the
rocking
chair every day and took a ride to see
“Dark”
& Grandpa Carter[25]. I know you would
be
as glad to see him. Adjt Freeman[26] has
married
his cousin. The Giltners are all sin-
gle
and still at home. Major Nounnan[27] is liv-
ing
in Texas. He writes to us right often. Dave
Bowls[28]
married soon after he went home but died
not
very long ago. Poor fellow! I wonder if he will ever
get
forgiveness
for all the big tales he has
told
in his life. Aunt Nance is still living
with
George. She does not look well now, but I
think
the cause of it is, she don’t get as much coffee
as
she wants to drink. She had a letter from Charles
not
long ago. He is well and is still anxious to come
out
to Russell. I am sorry to tell you Georges Fleck[?][29]
died
with the flux about two months ago. He
suffered
a great deal but talked a great deal about
dying.
He was such a fine sensible little boy.
Hannah
& Jord[30] have a boy. I suppose you have
heard
old Uncle Jordan[31] is dead, and old Uncle Job[31] too.
Old
Jeff Jessee[32] is dead, also Antony Puckett[32].
Page
4 of original letter
Dosh
Puckett[33] married one of the Ashbys[34]. Jim
Puckett[35]
is married too to some girl over on the
river.
Ann Barton[36] is here. She is a smart girl and
Mother
has taken her to raise. Mrs Barton[37] lives
about
at different places. We went to Camp
Meeting
last week. It is going on yet. Jim Gib-
son[38]
and several others professed religion.
Henry,
Dale & Johnny[39] have been staying
over
here a great deal. They are all fine boys
and
Dale talked a great deal about “Dark”
I
wish you could see them again.
You
must try to come out to see us. I
would
be glad to see you and I know every
body
else out here would be as well as my-
self.
Mother and Sallie are well and look
about
like they did when you left.
The
old house yard is grown up with weeds
three
feet high and the doors & windows gone
out
of the old kitchen. Our servants live in Aunt
Nance’s
old house. I have not been down there
since
you all left. It is the saddest looking
place
you ever saw and I know you would
cry
over it sometimes if you could see it.
Sallie
sends her love and says tell you when
she
marries she is going to send for you to
do
up her wedding clothes.
The
yard is full of pretty roses now but the frost
and
snow will soon scatter their leaves.
You
must let me hear from you soon. Let me know.
If
you have many troubles these days.
Written
at the top of the first page above the greeting
We
never hear
from
Andy[40] these
days.
I reckon
he
is dead.
Ike[41]
is still
living
at
John
Lampkins.
Clara
and all
are
well up
there.
Rach[42] has
gotten
to be a
great
big woman.
I
reckon it will
not
be long be-
fore
she thinks
about
marrying.
I
forgot to tell
you
Charlie & Mary
are
living at old
Cousin
Mary Fulton’s
I
must close
Yours
affectionately
Lizzie
C. Carter
Lebanon
Russell
Co
Virginia
