Dear Sister and Family

I seat myself to answer your kind and much welcome letter which came to hand on the 2nd inst.  It gives me much pleasure to read a letter from you and was glad to get brother's picture.  I believe I can see his youthful favor, his mouth looks very familiar to the best of my recollection of him.

Sister, you requested me to let you know what year father moved to Troup County - I will tell you he moved me, Isac, and Sealy to Troup in the winter of 1828.  We cleared a piece of land and raised a little corn crop and in the summer of 1829, we went back to help the family to move out to Troup in the Winter of 1829.

Now, you wanted to know what year I came to Texas.  We started the 15th day of December 1859 and got to Harmony Hill the 7th day of January 1860.

While it is in my mind I want to ask you to tell me where brother Jeff and and sister Amanda and Sister Margaret's Proper address is, so when I write to them they may be sure to get my letters.  The last letter I sent to Brother Jeff I directed it to the old Vernon Post Office.  I never received any answer to it.

We received a letter from Wesley Hall lately, he states in it that Edward had landed all right and all was well.  Tell me how far you live from the railroad station and the name of the same.

I shall not forget to thank you for the promise of more seed peas and peach seeds.

It would do me a great deal more good if you would pack up and move here with all of your children.

My eyes have failed me so much that I can scarcely see to write.

This leaves us all well with the exception of bad colds.  I have a hurting under my right shoulder blade that troubles me some.  We are a getting along slowly a gathering our crops.  We have sold 11 bales of cotton and have gathered about half of our corn.  We will make 800 to 1,000 bushels.

I hope these few lines will reach you safe and find you all well and a doing well.

Excuse me for not writing sooner.  I have to work when the weather will admit.

Write soon and often
May God Bless you all
Our love to you and yours
Farewell,

J. J. Williams

T: M. A. and G. Barron

Blooming Grove, Texas
November 13, 1882

Dear Sister, as it has been a long time since I have heard from you, I take the present opertunity of droping you a few lines hoping the same may find you and family all enjoying the richest of God's blessing.

We are all on foot today.  I am not very well myself.  I had some fever all day last Saturday.  I set down last Saturday to write a letter a piece to all of my sisters, I wrote one to Sister Julie and commenced one to Sister Amanda but felt so bad I never finished it till this morning.  We had our first frost last night and a cold north wind today.  I hope sickness will abate after this spell.

Oh we have had so much sickness in Texas this year, I reckon more than ever was known before and more deaths than I ever heard of in one year.  Sometimes there would be as many as there burryed a day i less than two miles and a half of where I live.

I am glad to say I have not lost any of my children or grandchildren as I know of, but has had a good deal of sickness among them.

I have not heard from Bosque County since about the time I got my last letter from you.  They ware all well then.  There is Pine raised in Texas this year and there is a heavy crop of Picans, the trees are loaded with them.

Martha and her son William and George my youngest son paid their brother Riley a visit last July and taken a notion to move back to Fannin County.  We will move between now and Christmas.  I think you wrote in your last letter to me to write how far I lived from our sisters.  It is fifty miles to where they live.  Sister I want to hear from you al verry bad and to hear how times is in old Alabama.  Time are had and dull heare.

Wheat is worth from 50cts to one dollar per bushel, Backon from 18cts to 20 cts per lb.  Corn from 35 cts to 40 cts per bushel.

I believe I have written about all that would be worth your hearing.  I will bring my short letter to a close for this time hoping to hear from you soon.  My youngest daughter will remain here another year and if any letters comes to me after I am gone, they will have them transfered to Monkstown, Fannin County.

May God ever bless you and yours.  My Dear Sister, Farewell.

J. J. Williams to M. A. Barron

These two letters are transcriptions of letters from Joseph J. Williams of Navarro County to his sister, Martha Ann and Greenberry Clay Barron in Milltown, Chambers County, Alabama.

Joseph J. Williams was a son of Thomas Williams and Caroline Whitehouse Williams.  Thomas and Caroline Whitehouse Williams' children were: Julia Frances Williams who married Walton Whitaker who lived in Bosque Co 1860; Amanda Williams who married John Whitaker and also lived in Bosque Co. 1860; Caroline who married Israel Moore; Margaret and Betty Williams; Isaac; Sealy; Epps; William Jefferson; and Edward W. Williams.

Joseph J. Williams born March 1, 1807 married Sarah Baxley on November 16 1834.  Their children were: Martha Ann (married Ira T. Martin), Joseph riley, Christopher Columbus, George Edward, and Caroline Matilda who married William __?__.  All children married, had children and lived in Rusk, Eastland, Coryell, Harrison and fannin Co, except Caroline Matilda (Callie) and husband William who lived in Navarro County at Blooming Grove and Dresden.

Notes:

• Navarro County Leaves & Branches Vol 8; Issue 3; pg 38-39
• Submitted to the Navarro County Genealogy Society by Gladys L. Phillips