'Sixteen letters in
the possession of my grandmother, Louretta Hanna Andrew Ball at the time
of her death. These letters late from 1887 to 1892, many are addressed
to Asa Frithias Andrew in Texas in late 1887), her father, and include
related Surnames of Hopkins, Wells, Sloan, Hamon and others all of whom
were from Clinton Co., Kentucky. '
Barbara Brinkley provided
the photos below.
Photo of Frethias
& Louisa Wells Andrew
John C. Andrew
Father of Frethias
andrew
All is well
this morning.
Pilot Grove Grayson
Co Texas
June 11th 1887
F. Andrew
Esteemed Friend &
Bro
Your most Excellent
Letter came to hand in due time was very glad indeed to hear from you again
Sorry though that old Tiger had been chasing you through the Swamp hope
you was not worsted by the Ferocious Mastiff in his wanton attack on you.
And now my dear old Deacon it Seems that you was deeply moved when our
Letters were called for and that you are ashamed of your weakness but let
me say I am fully as weak myself for I postponed making the request long
as Duty would admit of I had been going to our old Church so long generally
to and from there with you and was warmly attached to all the members had
FellowShip for Everyone of them and the House the Spring the grave and
the Creek where I was Baptized 20 years ago all seem so familiar I can
never forget the place or the People and never will find a Church that
will fill the void caused by the Seperation and I will say there is as
much difference between Seventy Six and other Churches in my feelings as
there is between my own Family and the Family of my Neighbor and now may
peace and Harmony Prosperity and the Blessings of God attend you all and
may Christian Affection good will and Fellowship and Union abound may you
hear each others Burdens and so fulfill the Love of Christ Esteeming Each
other as better than your Selves Sustain your Pastor by your attendance
your Sympathy your Prayers and your Money as Bro Burtram is a most
worthy man and a faithful and sound Minister of the Gospel and is like
most of Baptist Ministers a very poor man and my Dear old Deacon while
I know some have said to much in regard to the Support of the Ministry
yet that is no Excuse for our Brethern they failed to do their duty that
is the most of them and if the Baptists of that section do not turn over
a new Leaf and Sustain the Ministry they will go down as the Hardshells
did it is all nonsense for us to depend on the Lord to Call
Qualify Feed and Clothe our Ministers as we all know it is a poor Profession
that will not Support Itself. If our members would come up to $10
20 or $25 instead of nickels and dimes and that be a free will offering
their own Property would be increased there would be more Preachers and
better ones and the Spirit would attend their Labors and God would be gloriefied
in the Salvation of Sinners and by the Prosperity of the Churches.
I could say a great deal more but you have heard me in the Stand and in
Social Conversations and my views have not changed and perhaps never will
until I receive a Revelation from on high but Alas I fear there be no change
for the better during this Generation yet we will hear it said it is darkest
just before day God grant the Dawn may near at hand. A heavy Rain
this morning it has been wet 5 weeks and the Crops are getting lost in
the grass yet Corn is very fine up to this time if the Rain continues much
longer wheat will be lost in the Shock.. Write soon
yours truly
JD Hopkins
(PS) We have
not received the Church Letters yet.
Dec the 23 1887
Seventy Six Clinton
Co Ky
Mr F Andrew
Dear friend it is
with pleshure that I drop you a few lines in answer to your kind and most
welcome letter I am glad to hear that you and your family was well
and as well satesfied as you is I was aferd that you would not be as well
satesfied as you was when you write that other letter well times is mity
dul out here we have hard times her but we ar acquainted with them corn
is 60 cts a bushel and meat is 4 ¾ cts groce well we had a good
meeting at seventy I would love to a seen you there but I did not
see you well my old briar field made corn a nough to do me about to Jany
and pay for my colt well you said you could sing like six yet I would love
to hear you sing at old Seventy Six I miss you worse then any boddy that
ever left the County I don?t think I ever had a better friend then you
was well you said you could take a old fashen Clinton talk you could not
beat me a talking I would have loved to a sean a walking through them old
bamboo briars when you lost your hat and tore the filling out of your old
home spun pants well I am in better helth then I was when you left here
I am not working much yet but I will soon go to work I would love to see
you all I will respect you as long as I live well pap says to tell you
that he is at his old trad a making rails and sawing wood he says to tell
you that he would love to see you and talk with you he says to tell you
that him and mother is in tolerable good health we would love to see you
all we want you all to come and see us pap says to tell you that he has
quit chewing tobacco like you
Well I wil for this
time write soon and often from
J. D. Garner
to Mr F Andrew
Albany Ky
Jan 4th 1888
We send you two Checks,
amounting to $400.00, we had a chance at this time to get it and was fearful
to let it out as you might call for it when we could not get it, and you
can use it there to a good advantage Can Send you about $75.00 more
Soon. we think it best for you will then know how to make your arrangements,
yours with Respect.
P. H. Hopkins
J. F. Brents
Pilot Grove .
Tx . 88
Cyrus Andrew
Dear son enclosed
you will find a check on Merchants & Planters National Bank so you
can save your stock from selling you can take it to the Bank and cash it
you must sell out and pay me back soon as you can for we are hard pressed
have not paid all we promised on our farm and have no money to by lumber
with and no house to go in until we build now when you get the money to
pay back you must go to the Bank and by a check in my name and send it
for it is unsafe to send the money neigthern is safe for you to carry it
with you when you come so send a check you and Po do so soon as you
can now Cy come home and Tex we have sold six bales cotton brought
us $255.00 has Po any notion to come and look at this country write soon
as you get this so I will know how the matter has gone
F. Andrew
Tilda we have
bought us a small farm down here the cotton crop is short this year wish
Po could come and look at this country the cotton crop is the money crop
here and is cash to we sold six bales and will make about three or four
more bales to they bring us $45.00 per bale so you can tell some thing
about about the money it will bring hope you are all well good by
F. Andrew
(PS) Cy when you indors
this check write your name just like it is in the check letter for letter
notice there is an s to the name Andrew
June the 27 ?88
Mr. S. G. Andrew
Dere Cosine
I will try this morning
to ans: your kind letter well i have not got any thing to rite Well I wish
you would com back & help me talk to the girls i have my hands full
every sunday I go to 76 every two weeks to see my girl and I go to (pin
hook) the rest of my time Well Sheb I wish you was here to go with us to
the pick nick at Creelsboro the 30 of this month we would have a nice tim
with the girls We would not get drunk like you and henry did Sheb you must
come back to my weding I dont no when it will be it may never be and it
may be before it gets much longer I will let yo no in time for you to come
if i no it in time Well Sheb tell your ma aunt fannies postoffice is (left
blank) Co Ky Albany Landing, Comberland We are just be ginning to lay by
corn it have bin so dry that corn couldant gro but it is raning now and
prospecks is for plenty of rain now i will close by saying rite soon
from G. W. Wells
to S. G. Andrew good
By
End of first letter
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