Jan. 12, 1857 Titus County, Texas Janury 12, 1857 Dear and affectionate Daughter, Grand Sons and Daughters: I am yet left amongst the living to shed a sympathetic tear with you in your bereft condition. I received your letter on the seventh of this instant. We were all grieved to hear of your lonely condition but we hope that you have fortitude to bear up under your berieved condition, grievous as it is. We are also aware that your condition is not as bad as some others that are left widows because you have sons and daughters left you that are grown, able and I hope willing to assist you to raise those that are yet unable to work for themselves. This Epistle leaves your unworthy Father in Common health though very feeble in body, though able to attend to my domestic affairs. The balance of my family are well, also all the rest of the connections in this part of the country. They all partisipate in grief with you and your children for your departed friend. Betsey, I am still left here amongst the living for some purpose, God only knows for what, but let it be fore what it may, I feel perfectly reconciled to it and if I hold out faithful to the end, I shall have my reward. You state that you would be glad that it was convenient to have my council. I never expect to be able to do it and as far as council is concerned at the present time I am not able to do it not knowing your conidition in regard to your pecuniary condition. Hence I omit saying anything to you until our next interview on paper. Therefore you will please answer this immediately and let me know all about your debts, the whole condition of the Estate, your arrangements for the present year and so on. If I am living when your answer returns, I will then give you my views if required. This I hope will come safe to hand and find you and family in good health. I omit anything further on the above head and come now to inform you something on different subjects. We have at the present time a remarkable cold spell of weather and have had for several days. There fell a sleet and snow together to the depth of five or six inches about a week ago and it is still on the ground which is very hard on stock but we hope it will leave soon. We had a dry year last year but notwithstanding we made fine crops in this part of the country. Cotton crops were not as good as corn crops, but cotton is bearing a fine price. It is worth from nine to ten and a half cents per pound in Jefferson. Alexander (Brown) sold his at nine to ten and a bit for the first load. The next load he sold for nine and a half. His cotton brought him over four hundred dollars. We have had some pork to sell and some beef so you see as regards pecuniary matters we are doing well enough. Religiously we are making but poor progress though not destitute enough I hope to save us high up in Heaven if we hold fast to what we have. Enough on that head. I will inform you that Isabella is again married. She was married on the fifth of November last to a young man by the names of Hughs, a brother to John H.D. wife, quite a steady industrious man about twenty seven years old. He has a very good place in the neighborhood with a pretty smart of an improvement on it. James Madison was married on the 20th of November to a young lady by the name of Atkin, a number one girl I think, though poor, a widow lady's daughter. The general health of our country is good and has been for two years though there is some sickness and some deaths. Let us know in your next what number on Negro girls and Negro women are worth and so on. I add no more but subscribe myself your ever loving Father until death. Elizabeth joins me in love to you and your family. Alexander, Sarah and children with the rest of the connection send their best feeling to you and family also old Polly, Markham and Sam. John and E. Brown* © Copyright 2007 - All rights reserved *This letter was written to Elizabeth Brown Marshall on the death of her husband, George Marshall. John Brown was a pioneer of the Republic of Texas, having established Head Rights in Texas in 1841.
 
John Brown Ripley, Titus County, Texas - January 12, 1857 Transcript