One hundred seventy two years ago, my 3rd great grandfather wrote this letter.
A letter from John Lloyd to his brother Robert.
I transcribed the letter exactly as it was written.
The letter is important because it tells when John was in Missouri and where he lived.
It states that his sister Mary and Brother Abner were deceased.
John lists his children and I can figure the birth date of William Walker. He lists his daughter Jane's marriage and her husband as well as their baby's name.
Lots of information about his crops and the county he lived in.
He also gives information concerning other family members, the Smith's and McCullocks. McCullock was his mother's maiden name.
Can you imagine writing to your parents that you never expect to see them again?
To: Mr. Robert Lloyd
Tennesse
Grandger Co Rutledge
Return Address: Elm
Grove, MO
June 22nd
State of Missouri
Clay County June 10th 1844
Dear Brother and Sister
We avail ourselves of the present opportunity of letting you
know that we are all well at this time
through the services of god
hoping these few lines you all enjoying the like blessing.
Dear Brother We have
nothing of deep interest to relate it
has been a long time since we have rote
to you and sill longer since we have heard from you with the exception of some man that passed
throgh _______county about 12
months. Since who told an acquaintence
of mine that he lived in the
neighborhood of Father’s and all the
connection was well when he left home
the last letter we got stated the death of sister Mary and Brother
Abner. Dear Brother you say to me your
health was not good but better than what it had been I have great reason to be thanksful for my
health is as good as I would wish it with vctfition I am sometimes afflicted
with biles Nancy health has not been as
good through the winter and spring as she has som only enjoyed but better than
it was for several years after we waz
first married
We have 9 childrain whose names is as follows Jane, Mary Ann, Abner Thomas, Nancy, Eliza,
Malinda, Albert Galiton, John Calvin, William Walker who is the baby & was
three years old 21st of last February and a bad prospect for any
more childrain at this time Jane was
married last December two years ago two a man by the name of George Murphy they live nine miles from us they have got a
home of there own and is making out very well
they have one child which will be two years old this fall they call his John Calvin I have dwelled lenthey on the family affairs I will try to say something about the times
and seasons we had quite a moderate
winter the fore part of the spring was very good since that time the weather
has been very wet and sometimes so therez a great deal of corn to plant yet I
had the good luck to get my corn planted before the wet weather commenced and
have it plowed over the second time with the exception of about half a days
plowing there is at thiz time a bad
prospect for corn and hemp wheat and oats looks well provision is plenty and
money very scarce I have eight or nine thousand pounds of tobacco on hand at
this time which will not bring more than two dollars per hundred if that much
at this time I am trying to raise for
_____ thousand this season I have
as handsone a place as in Clay County
I have built a large frame barn calculated for a grain barn but is using it
as a tobaco barn at this time the floor
when put in will be twenty nine by twenty nine feet and half square as I have a
one hundred and twenty or one hundred thirty acres of land under fence but more
than one one third of the ground under fence is in pasture we have a fine grass county there is vast quantityes of people moveing
from Missouri to Oregon and Texas but numbers coming to fill the places So they are not missed ______ Platte purchase is the thickest
settled county that I was ever in and as good land and water William Smiths and Nancy Mcullochs
familiez was well not long since William Smith has got sick since he came to
Missouri Nancy Mcullochs family is
making out well none of the childsran
married but Betcy and Willaim has to go I do not know what has become of
him he left this county over five years
ago about marketing Some hogs that did
not belong to him William Smith childrain is all married that is grown with the execption of George brother Robert if this letter comes to hand I want you to
let father and Mother and all the connection see it that is convenient to do
so old Aunt Mary Johnson is dead I have understood aunt Elizabeth Mculloch
and her son James lives in the same yard as I am informed and is doing well so
I shall change the subject Very Dear
Brother you rote to me that you had made a profession of religion which I was
glad to hear when this comes to hand if it does I want you to sete to me and
state how you are getting along in your feelings and what your prospects is for
heaven and happiness and whether you trust in your acts of obedience for your
salvetion or in the efficatious blood of Christ
my reason for being for being so inquisitive is this I do know that
there is two grand decisions among the professing past of the people one says
fsll glace free grace the other says works as to my hrart I am the one that
believes in acts of obedience to follow after juetification but not to be
justified for obedient acts my little hope that I obtain in Carolina near
twenty five years ago still abides with me and has often afforded me
consolation even when I thought that I was in a few minutes of being done with
time and time things
I wish to be remembered to Father and Mother Brothers
Sisters nephews nieces and all inquiring friends we shall add no more but remain you
affectionate Brother and Sister while life remains.
John
Lloyd
Nancy
Lloyd
Dear parrents and friends
Mr. Lloyd has rote lenthy but I feel like I want to say sum thing Dear Parrents I can not say that I have the
best expectations of ever seeing you in this life May the lord of his infinet me try grant we
may all be prepare to meet in heven whar grieving for the lofs of departed
friends will benomore we are with our two oldest children lafatizt and with
them we wish to live and die fare you to well my loving friends far well
Nancy
The original letters were digitized by the Allen County Public Library with the help of Curt Witcher.
They were donated to Fort Walla Walla Museum in Walla Walla, Washington in 2015
They were handed down through the family.
