THE MIMS LETTERS ~ Page 3
(6)
Dancyville, Tenn
Sunday night
Nov. 28th 1852
Dear Brother,
After a long silence on my part I received a second letter from you on Friday last informing us of Sister's sickness, Hannah's intended marriage and among the maney deaths, the deathe of Thos' child, sister's long illness we are terribly sorry to hear, but were I in the community I would bring the charge of maltreatment. Only one eyed pill peddlers of (Ounx Day ?) aught to no that _____________________ is a convienient way of making Typhoid patients die off easy. Never no never ( relase ?) young patients in typhoid Feavous. I hav seen between 40 & 50 case of typhoid feavous this year and as yet they are all living. I am yet disposed to think I am a tolerable phision ---enough.
I tried to proswade my old woman to come out and see sister. Could not come myself at this time but hav a Friend who would take her along. I think I will get her off sometime before long.
As for Hannah marrying. That is something new under the sun________ it, but she is a smart gal I thought she neaver be an old maid. Was truly sorry to hear of the death of Tom's boy.
I a few days ago sold my plantation making by the transaction $1300.00 and the youse of it 3 years. I hav now cleared between $4,000 & $5,000. by my profession since moving to this state & with that I have a__________constitution. I suffered this year more than eaver with (diabetics ?) and hemorrohoids. My affliction has been so severe that I was conpelled to travel on wheels until a few days past. My pills sold this year to the amount of $2,000 or $2,500. I sometimes feel like going off somewhere I would only be nown as A.S.A. Mims if my relations and connections were all there ? I would go to a dead simtenty (cemetery ? ed.). I an now hear in Dancyville in the far west owning not ___________ 2 acres of land in two states, don't that look like small potatoes, but this is the best country I hav eaver seen for Pill Peddlers. They send for doctor here to cure chills and fevers. No one keeps medicine on hand here, I am still of the opinion that this is the healthyer than S.C. There is one thing sertain that diseases an (easeyen ?) managed here than in your state with one exception that now appears to my mind Typhoid Fever in that there is too much (relaseation ?) in our western constitution for it to yeald reddyly to medical treatment. enough.
When you receive this write to me forthwith and if my old woman can be of any service to your old lady I will send her on quicker.
Well I aught to say something about my boys, my Tennesseeians. I can't begin to describe to you, but would give $200 for the chance to exibit him in your town. Jimmy is hard to beat, but he is not quick like lightning. They are both as fat as pigs, hav been in fine health all this year. Harriett is lean in flesh but enjoys good health My waggons returned this evening from Memphis with my supple of Rice "them" (malosis maceral ?) & steel mill to make some homony for her We will kill hogs soon & think she will be fat soon
When you see Hannah ask her what she is mad about, Can't tell myself. Harriett wrote to her once or twice since receiving her last letter and has treated me the same way, but for my part I will be obliged the next year to curtail my correspondents. I cannot do the riding I will be obliged to do and write letters without receiving answers in return. You write to me occassionally after a whild when you get the time, but they come few and far between. now for a childs bargin I will obligate myself to write to you within 3 days after reception of each and every one of your letters if health will admit. If I have it to do on the pommel of a saddle or on my (k)nee while in my buggy on my professional duties if you will obligate to do the same I am making a fare crop this year 20 bales of cotton - 500 lbs each 300 bbls corn worth $1.25 bbl.
Your brother
Sam'l A. Mims
P.S. We and all white and black able to eat our allowance. My girls Elisor and Bela are both in the ____________ that will require me on hand. You know that I had a child to take from Elisor by______________ . Tell your children Nancy and Peter and all them Foak in S.C. that nows me if you see them soon Howdy
Your SAM
(7)
Dancyville Tenn
Jan. 16th 1853
Dear Brother,
Yours of the 9 December came to hand on Friday last. We were anxiously looking for it thought Harriett had a letter from her Father dated 16 December and received three weeks ago today. I cant account for ou western mails. We had a full account of the wedding guest and so we are very much surprised to hear that Sarah M. McIver and Dr. Prestleys marriage. Who would have thought it. Don't it look like all the S.C. gals are marring men that they ought to call Uncle or Gran Dad. (ah dot ?) wink Blink or think no offence to our kin folks, You know Father use to say Old Age is Honorable. Boys and I will not now deny it.
Well it seems to me but dont know though like you are living in a very sickly county. Dont your doctors get to be very wealthy. I have not as many as six accounts that will go over $65.00 last years work. I am truly sorry to hear of all your sickness. If it was so intended that your family should be sick it would afford me pleasure to attend them gratuitously if I were in reach I would be more than glad to see your little family once more but cant promise myself I will unless you conclude to move west or should come on a visit. If you will come out here I will go with you over the Western County until you are satisfied with a place and settle near you. This place suits me well. I would not exchange it for any other I know of but to have some of my relations near me, if you have any idea of moving west come aout and look for yourself. I shant tell you anything to induce you to come and then after you have got here you will have a change of saying some was overly anxious or I don't believe he would have lied to me this way. Come along what is expense, I will pay your expenses what is a hundred dollars, I can make that in ten days any time of the year solatary and alone. All counties I know of have their advantages and disadvantages. This I would call a good average county. Come and look for yourself. Should you not be able to settle yourself some where in the far west on your return I will send my wife with you to S.C. see her relatives. The money spent by her in a visit to S.C. or you here will be no object to me. I can make it as part as you could spend it in traveling. I have bought a small farm well improved for this country, but that will be no object, I can sell it any day I wish to do so for more than I gave for it. So that these shall be no disappointments on my part Stand to it come aboard I am ready.
As for Father or Father McIver I think it all most needless to say anything to
them about moving. I given them over myself to the Sand Hills and PineKnots. How in the
world would they ever have scoweing ? done without sand ? and
it seems to me dont know though that they could not read the Biblical Recorder
without a pine knot in the fire but they have all that in______
just a little way over hear. Tell them if it will be inducement tell them of that sure I
am overly anxious for you to come out. I can hardly keep from telling you some things that
I think would bring you but they might turn out not so and will not tell come
and see for youself. and inquire of some one else. I think you could be suited out
here some where or some where else.
Harriett says to tell sister that she feel like she has commenced to live again. We are
now in a house with four rooms a great part of the time since we have been here we
have lived in a log cabin, with one room and a loft with stairs, or latter like, I
will keep 24 hog of my own raising for meat. I sold and have 225 bbls of corn yet to eat
and feed my stock with and 40 bushels of wheet to grind. Come and see us. We will
not give you bread and room to your self to sleep in. Sugar is cheap here________
_______________________________ milk and butter we have and to spare. The old woman
has about 50 laying chickens and we will eat eggs and raise chickens this spring til we
cant trot around. I really wish you could see my old woman now. She looks happy as a dead
pig in the sun shine. I just think like I always did that she is a charming old woman to
fix up things and knock around and rather the best looking gal of the flock, yet
tell friend Mauldin. Look here I never could keep a good joke. My wife had not long since
an accouchment call that is a cracker brain fellow told me that he or my wife to be with
his wife when she would be sick and ? not and don't care which if she don't
commence raising me some more boys. Soon I think I will have to give him my Paceing Filly
Patey Jones & stand her out if I can get any one to take care of the boys while we are
out.
Well time will not permit. Have no News. Cant write nore Sunday night. Any way havent had a good nights sleep in a week. All well white and black trotting around except Bella and she only had a young Dembo last Thursday night, doing well both her and boy child. Harriett joins me in love to you and family both great and small. Write soon, come soon and lets settle ourselves for life where we will have shelter and bread to eat.
Your brother
S.A. Mims
P.S.
I have not been home any since receiving your letter untill tonight, but have been able to
keep my promise for which I am thankful.
(8)
Dancyville Tenn
Oct 21, 1853
Dear Bro,
Yours of the the 8th came to hand today and found all well. My wife received one a few days since which she answered in due season Thought she forgot to sign her name.
Well I should be glad you cold(could?) see my three chaps for I will assure you they are hard to beat. My gall (gal?) is doing well as part as a cricket. Seems to no everything that is going on about the place. Notices like a child of six months old. I have now wrote all I can without I should talk to you about farming interest or pill peddling and that I have told often enoughf for you to be well aquainted with my business affairs.
Well to the point if things is as they hav been represented if that property is not devided between this and January However bad I hate Law I will avail myself of (writ?) advantage or disadvantage. As you are going to Darlington your will conferm a lasting favor on me by making the necessary inquirey in that property. A (deed?) of gift to the Heirs of Mrs Elizabeth McIver if so when do they intend to devide it for just hear let me tell you that I work but four hands & in ginning or rather bailing cotton I hav to make one hand and frequently ride all day and work until Eleven at night & rise early next morning & work till Breakfast tugging at cotton bales weying from five to six hundred. Now with the four I hav I hav in gone by days found that a overseer was not profitable but John some months since wrote that this fall property aught to be divided and that it aught to have been done before and on the strength of that I hav hired an overseer for next year and am to give him 200 hundred dollars. I have not had the _____________ of a ______________ from that sourse since this thing brakes in to my arrangement badly. Now I no that you are ____________ how much a hand or two helps a fellow along. I am now in a very pretty wey to commence to make some money if only I had the chance to do so If you don't need your share of them negroes I would advise you to never hire them out It will spoil them for ever and I will buy all you do not need yourself if you should wish to sell them I hav not advised you to sell because I want to buy, but I no you can't do anything at farming in the country you are in nor do I believe you can anywhere else for you no nothing about farming and to keep them all around you and they not paying fo the salt they eat they will ruin you and to hire them out it will ruin them. So you need now are those will take to wait on you and that is enoughf.
Well I would be glad to go to Fayetteville myself but am not able to do so Time is money with me and if I donot do something now my children are growing up fast. I intend to educate them well if it takes the last Kinky Head I hav but rather make money to do it and leave them a little stan if possible. Don't know yet how many there will be It may be long division from the start we hav taken. I would say it will be that way.
Well do all you can to get Father to leav that country tell him to come hear I will take care of him as long as he lives if per chance I should out live him. I honestly belive Father in his Doteage and I think it better He had a guardian and you are near him and aught to attend to sutch things if it be true.
Well this epistle was wrote in haste for I am verry busy at this time.
Your brother
S.A. Mims
(9)
Dancyville Tenn
Feb 19, 1853
Dear Brother,
Your of 29 Jan. came to hand on yesterday. We were glad to hear that you were so well fixed in your new home and all well again. Hope that sister will soon get to kicking round and get fat. I know that my old womam would fatten like a hog if she ha the mountains you live in and the eatables we have here in this wester country. I have 23 hogs in my smoke house, my own raising 30 gallons of lard, wheet and to spare corn to sell as many eggs as we ever had at __________ Place & one or two hens setting. About 100 chickens, geese, ducks and turkeys. Sugar and coofe is cheap out here. So come and see us. It would do sister good to travel. We are in about fifteen days ride, Whats that to a man who has two months in a year to loafer on. We would be glad to see you. We have a double log cabin with an ell log room attached and we feel that it is considerable nice after living in a single log for so long. We feel perfectly at home. We are now glad to see our friends. Come to see us and would be more thanglad to have you come out and eat some of our hogs and homony. We would not have to send out and borrow a little flour , meat or something else to set before you as we did once in time. We now live at home and bord at the same pi ?. You cant disscomfitters come. I will always have a place plenty to feed you duffins & yourself of course Tennessee diet.
Well Harriett wrote to her Father some time since if he or John would come out she would return with him on a visit to her relations in S.C. John on the 8 day of Feb. wrote to her that he would come at any time she would appoint. The letter came to hand on yesterday. Well prehaps you S. Carolinians may think I have been blowing round. I did offer to pay the expenses of your self, John and Father McIver. That is either of you that would come out and take my wife out to S.C. But always John was too slow making up his mind. If he was here now the thing would work but before he can be wrote to a time or two my wife could not stand the hot weather. That is she could not travel in hot weather this summer. Well to the point if John still feels like coming out in September my wife if she (lucks?) well on the first day of Nov may start to S.C. with him in company with one or two wom male or female cant _________________________ an that score the old woman will be ________________ thisfall I hope.
You inquired about Brother Nolen he _______ well here. Stans fare here as a preacher and farmer. Makes fine crops, Preaches __________ Sundays in Sommerville, one here and at Mount Morior some sever miles off. Brother Coffee preaches on Sunday here. Nolen is called one the biggest preachers any where in these diggens. They are all we . Nolen though had Typhoid Fevous last spring ? and lacked but little of dieing the poor fellow was badley______ while he kept his________ very nerous and hard to mannage.
Harriet says to tell sister she will write her soon but the multiplis ? of work and attention to her house hold affairs is such but that she has but little or no time to spare.
Well hoping that you or some of my S.C. friends will conclude to come out or rather move out here next fall. I have concluded to plant grain crop intirely this year and try to make my shotes ? Weigh 6000 lbs next fall. Should you not come I will only have corn and pork to sell. That is all of it. John sorter speaks like he will come if he likes after coming and seeing for himself. There is one thing I will not preswade any one to come or movr with_________________ for themselves the______________ my temperments ans___________ verry well and that is all I say to ________ are and all I intend to say. ______Spoke of your pattent buggy you________ please to give me a full discription of it as I am not thinking of having me one made with a sulkey seet for my own riding. I have one I can ride in and take my whole family though it is very light. The tire is only one inch wide. The lightest trick that could be made on the old plan for two people to ride in though. As I am now compelled to ride in a buggy on account of my dyabetics and pyles. I intend to have one mad ewith a sulkey seat with hye back to support my lumbar region. You will please to give me a full discription of yours and the probable cost and so that I may have one made. We have a buggy maker in our town and a splended black smith from Yankey dum that served his apprinticeship in a carrage establishment. I can have the thing fixed up if I had the dementions and style and so forth.
Your brother in haste
Samuel A. Mims
P.S. All well except myself. I am still suffering with my dyabetics so that my back is as ? mak and painful as a women in labor. Ihave wrote this on Saturday night but it will not take shipping before Monday next. __________________no need for me to tell you there is no news with us for if you will read this epistle you will find that out yourself. Enough said. If anyone per chance inquire of you how we are now getting along you can tell them the old woman and I have not fought yet but know not how soon now we will take a brush. Do you and Peter juggle ? as often as you use to and does he ask you as many questions as once did.
(from Harriet)
Dr. went out to church some 5 miles off and also to see a patient beyond there and when he returned he had had 3 calls, one 4 miles east and another 10 miles.