Transcription of portions of Reason Berry SAWYER family
letters
by Jo Sawyer - sinca@chickasaw.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hamburg, Ashley County, Arkansas
October 31, 1886
Mr. James H. Sawyer
Garretts, Lamar Co., Texas
Dear Bro.
The
last letter that any of us has rec'd from you was written to Father on the 21st
Feb /86. And I have this morning
concluded to write to you again in order if possible to hear from you all once
more. Bro. I have no news of interest
to write. Our crops are cut short by
quite one half that is the cotton. The
corn crop as a general thing is very good where they were worked. So you see short crops and short prices for
them and heavy credits places things in rather bad conditions with the
generality of the people in this country.
The
health of this country has been tolerably good up to about two weeks ago. There has been some sickness on the Bayou
since that time and resulted in three or four deaths. All on Bayou. John ALLEN,
John HUDSPETH, John FORK and John BELL all died within the last two weeks with
swamp fever and pneumonia. We have had
three or four large Frosts this week and we hope will check the sickness in the
swamp country and elsewhere. This writing
finds us all well so far as I know with the exception of a few chills and colds
and I hope will find you all enjoying good health and prospering.
Pa,
I believe is trying to get ready to get off to Church. We had a man to preach for us in Hamburg
about a month ago. Carried on his
meeting for two weeks and affected much good.
There was seventy five conversions and some of our oldest men a few
names of whom I will mention. Old man
McDUFFIE, James WILLIS, James WATSON, Jess FILES. This man is a Methodist preacher, raised in your country in
Texas. Perhaps you know something about
him. His name is Harry MAY a converted
Jew. I did not get to hear him. Father and Bro. John went up to hear him and
they came back home much pleased with his preaching. They believe he preaches the right doctrine.
I
recon you have learned before this that we have elected a new set of county
officers. Zim STILL is our County
Clerk, John CLARK Sheriff, Hogan ALLEN, representative and so on. We are to hold an Election next Tuesday the
2nd of Novr. to elect our Congressman Thos. C. McRAE.
Well
Bro. as I have nothing more of interest to write I will bring this to a close
hoping to be more interesting in my next after hearing from you all again for I
do not know whether I am writing to the dead or living though I hope not to the
former the dead. . . . Bro. Polk wrote
to Sister Mat some two months ago perhaps and have never heard a word from her
since. Tell them to write. . . Much
love to you all. I remain as ever your
Bro.
/s/
Geo. W. Sawyer
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hamburg, Ark.
Feb. 26th 1876
My Dear Children,
.
. .
We
have fine health at this time except Polk's little girl. Its health is not good. We have had the worst weather during this
whole season I have ever witnessed. And
it seems today that spring is opened.
We have done very little in the way of farming yet and nothing in the
way of gardening. . . John and myself have rented the CAMP place and are aiming
to try to make something there this year.
But cotton is so low and times are so hard and no money in the country,
it will be a tight fit for us to make anything. . .I am on the Turf for Probate
Judge. If I can succeed and live I may
be able to get along a little better in the future.
The
boys are going to school and Belle is flying around having an easy time at last
(not married yet). This is quite a dull
place now, you may be sure. Nothing to
occupy myself at. Loafing is popular in
Hamburg. Plenty of whiskey drank. Leap Year has brought abut many weddings, so
many I will not undertake to name them.
None of our Kinsfolk. I expect
to go to the swamp tomorrow to see how times are and make arrangements for
regular farming.
.
. . ------ is still living and drinking plenty of whiskey, but don't think the
time is far distant when he will have to close on it or it will close on him. .
.Jammie, when you go to Paris give my respects to old friend Sam MASON and our
respects to OWENBY and family. Since
writing about the people in Texas, reminds me of a Texan coming to our town and
taking off one of our girls, Miss EATSMAN to Dr. MORRIS (dentist).
.
. . Write soon and often to your devoted Parents Brothers & Sister.
R.
B. Sawyer
Olive
Sawyer
J. R. Sawyer
J. B. Sawyer
D. B. Sawyer
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hamburg, Ark.
Sept. 9, 1878
My Dear Son,
Through
the providence of God I have once more concluded to try to write you a few
lines. Though with difficulty. . .
George and Buck are gone hunting. We
are now at George's place for the present for health, which has only been
moderate this season. This has been a
remarkable season for sickness and deaths.
To attempt to name the deaths would be a task. I presume you have heard of the death of SUMNER, he died last
Feb. Old man ROAKES this summer, one of your Uncle Mc children Maurice
(?). That is about all of connection.
Dan
WHITE is married to Bettie STATON. My
son, to say anybody is well I cannot. . . And my son everybody is so poor and
crops so sorry and money so scarce that I cannot see how we are to live. Business of all kinds is so perfectly
prostrate that nothing can be found to do.
James, my son is there any chance for a living in Texas? What is the prospect out there? . . . We have been looking for Dick or some
of you out this season, but now I suppose a scare from Yellow Fever may prevent
any from coming.
Cotton
crops are generaly good but corn crops are very short. Willie NORVELL was one who had a part of my
place and he was taken sick, lay eleven days and died . . .
.
. .
Your devoted parents,
R. B. Sawyer
Olive Sawyer
P. S. Show this to Martha and Turner and give our love to all.
R.
B. S.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
