June 19,1843
Written to
Philip & Elizabeth Draper
Trenton
Gibson County Tennessee
State of Tennessee Smith County
Sent from Bagdad June23 - 18 cents
Dear Son and daughter
I have taken my pen in hand at last to try to infonn you what is going on hear we are in bad Circumstance hear Salley has been alimost confined to her bed ever sinse the first of March and still is very little belier if any her mind is deranged one half of her time she hardly knows what she is about the rest of the connection is all well as far as I know except old Mrs. Pates Stephen Pate has been bedriden since last fall he was taken with chills and fevers and was thought that he would not lave lived 3 day but has recovered so that he has come to his right mind again but cant walk nor git Out of his bed without help eats hearty as common but cant feed hisself and has to ly on his back mostly the rest of the family is all well as far as I know there. I have had no count from any of my Children since February last the last day I got a letter from Parleman and they were all well then and doing well. I have not hard from John for for sometime I got a letter from Coalman dated in July they were well then he wrote that he would have been hear the first of October but did not come for what reason I cant tell there has been some deaths hear Harvel King died the 23rd of March with somthing like the fluoks he died the gth day affer he was taken I Reed your letter dated the I oth of Aprile on the first Sunday in May and was glad to hear that you were all well from what you write times is much hear like they are there money Scarce we had a Snow hear in March it commenced on the 15 early in the morning and Snowed all that day and I think nearly all night when done it was about 12 inches deep I think it was ten days before we could see the ground any where our wheat is Sorry the frost kild it in the winter there will be very light crops of wheat made hear I want you to write to me every Chance and let me Know how you are and whether you have heard any thing from Coalman and if you know where to direct a letter to him I know he lives in Fontotoc County but I dont know what Post office and if you know write to me and whether you have heard from Certain whether S. Farterwood is dead or not I will inform you that Coalman Cornwell is Married to the widow Christian her first husband was James Jones and has gone to live with her and James Young now owns his place I dont know of any thing more you would feel intreased in I shall conclude by Subscribing myself your loving Father till Death
Philip Draper
I will let you know that it is thought that Gabel Burton will be brook up finely he has Swap his place on the ridg for a place about 3 miles from Carthage and he is there every day.