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Copy of Original LetterFrom Elgiva Francis Dated 1849 |
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| Louis County, August 12, 1849,
Sunday morning Dear Sister, I for the first time after a long absence take my pen to write you a few lines to let you all hear from us and how we are getting on. We are all well with the exception of myself. I have a slight headache. I hope when these few lines comes to hand they may find you enjoying the blessings of good health one and all. We left old old native land on the 3rd of May and on the 4th we stayed in Salem all day and the night following. On the morning of the 5th we parted with our friends, which seemed to affect them some for it was like parting to meet nomore, and then we commenced our journey like a lonesome little wondering band. We reached the top of the Alleganies on the 6th day at night. On the 10th day at about two hours by the sun we landed our little band in the city of Clarksburg. There we met with one of Mr. Francis' cousins, who was glad to see us and was very kind to me and the children. We had a very tiresome journey and mighty bad roads, though we got on without danger or accident. I was very sick the morning we was on the top of the Allegany and could not eat one mouthful of breakfast. We traveled through the most desolate part of the country I ever saw and came to the north branch of Potomac at one o'clock. There we saw so many bee stands that we thought we wanted honey and milk. We stopped and fed our horses and we had some butter with us. Then we got some honey and good sweet milk and good warm oven bread for which we had to pay 25 cents. We made a very hearty meal all hands of us. That was quite a palatable medicine I do assure you. We had just passed a river on that morning. Though it was small its waters was the color of lye and it is said that its waters is always that color. Next to that we came to a small stream not as large as Broadrun. It lay between two very large high mountains. Its stream was pure and clear and cold as ice water, and the mountains on both sides formed its banks, and was they most dismal looking place I ever saw. And we stopped there, looked about. It was uncommonly cold and the people say there may be ice found at a short distance from there on the same creek at any season of the year, and they call it Difficult. It is difficult for it is a den for bears, wolves, panthers, wild cats, rattlesnakes and any thing else that can live among them. It is said that that the Stoney River, Difficult and the north branch all wind their way through the mountain and enters in the Potomac a way below Cumberland. While passing through mountains we came to a river called Cheat River. It is right long stream and runs as fast as water could run. We crossed on the bridge. It was about one hundred and fifty yards wide, and the next river was the Tiger Valley that was still larger and more powerful than the other. The water did not run so swift as the Cheat River water though it was deeper and looked more dangerous. There we crossed on a bridge and it was about two hundred yards wide. It is quite a novel scene to travel the northwestern road through the Allegany. We stayed in Clarksburg from Sunday evening till Tuesday morning. Then we went on to Louis county 15 miles south of Clarksburg where we now live. We live in a very bad looking house though we do not expect to stay more than one year, as we do not like the house, nor to be candid, we do not like, the country very much. For while there is a good deal of rich land here there is a heap of very poor land. We have a garden of cabbage, very good and-some beans, peas, cucumbers and sweet potatoes and we have a littfefield of corn, about 8 acres all of which we had to put in the ground since we came to this country, and some it looks mighty well, some it right small. 1 do not like this country for they are rough and selfish and care nothing for education or manners, politeness or anything else. There very little politeness used here for when you go to see a neighbor it is all help their selves, little and big, and I don't care how many comes in there is no introduction or compliments. I should not be surprised if we was to go on to the Ohio yet. It is right healthy in this country, though at this time there is three cases of the typhoid fever. Mr. Francis is at this time at work at the steam meill hauling coal. He gets one dollar for himself and his 2 horses for day, the wagon is furnished him. He has hauled 3 days and he does not know how long he can keep the job. He may do a good deal of it for all he knows. There is considerable increase in the names of Francis since they have come to this country. Jane Francis, Rhubin's wife, had a son. He died 4 days old. It was born in May 22nd. Mrs. Owens has a fine son about 3 weeks old. Joseph Francis and Henry Francis's wives both had a fine son apiece about 2 weeks old. One born on Saturday and the other on Monday. There has been a wedding a few days ago in the neighborhood and Owen F. and John and Sarah was all at it. A Mr. Atkins to a Mrs. Wagoner. Owen F. and his sister was two of the witness. They cut a wide swath in this country. Prices of corn/50c, wheat/62-1/2c, oats/25c, bacon/6d, butter/6, sugar /10c, coffee/4d, dry goods as cheap as in the east. You must write to me and let me hear how you all are and all the news you can get, what they are all doing and how they are living, and about your trip to the city and all you know of our friends there, as I would like to hear from them all. Give my love to all my brothers and sisters and to all inquiring friends. Write soon and direct you letter to Jane Lew, Louis county. We are in right good spirits. Our children is a great satisfaction. They are hearty and well. James Henry can run and climb about like all the world and is very funny. They all are very lively and often speak of their poor Aunt Nancy and all of the rest of you. I must come to a close by saying you must excuse all mistakes and bad writing as we are bad hands to write. Farewell, farewell. Your affectionate sister until death, Elgiva Francis to Miss Nancy M Jackson groveton PO Prince William Co Va 5c postage NOTE: It appears they followed what is now US Route 50 from Salem (now Marshall, VA) to Clarksburg, (W)VA from the description of the route. Original Letter from Elgiva Francis to sister Nancy M Jackson Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 |
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Last Updated: April 2020 |
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