David Davis – 15 Nov 1842

Henderson County, Tennessee
November 15, 1842

Dear Son,
I received yours of September 5th, 1842 which informed me of 
your marriage and also the birth of a son, which gave me pleshur 
to hope that you was done sowing wild oats and now for this 
and the world to come, I want you to be orniment to yourself and 
your fammily. We have to live alter we are dead if you are rightly, 
money or no money.
Your mother wishes to see you wonce more. Doctor Montgomery with 
all his family came here last June, and Honey and Polly Davis. 
She is married to David G. Montgomery. He has taken a ocupent 
over the Nachex trace, and Michael, his father, has bought 
William [?]'s by Benjamin Nicolls in Carroll County. 
John B. Davis and your mother has been to the old world 
and returned July, 1841. And old father Davis was living who 
has since died. Saludia Cary is dead and is buried at my buring 
ground with her father and mother.
Religion runs high, the people is all got good. I wish they 
would all hold it until death.
That being in debt I do not like to hear. I want you to git out. 
I got land enough for you to work. Your mother wants to see you. 
She wants to see your boy. I want to see your lady and her boy. 
Lucindia was [?]'s name. There is aone of that name at my knee. 
James M. Davis' girl and John B. Davis' girls are here. 
William Parker has got a little one and Jane Lawson has got 
a little one, and Bobb has got a abig one. Thomas is going to school. 
Old Uncle Bob Cozard's girls is married. Aunt Lottie I think 
she will go next.
Green A., I think you said you intended to make something before 
you returned. You have never returned I fear you have never made.
If you was able to come, your mother say she wold kill the fatted calf. 
I fear you are not able. As to my part I want to hear and know of 
your well doing than see you in debaugh. I could write much so 
I could give fear of God to others.
I remain your father and well wishes till death and when 
this you see, remember me.

David Davis




Dear Brother,
I will write a few lines to inform you some things left out above. 
There has bin several death and marages. It has been tolerable 
helthy this year in this part of the neighborhood but of some 
distance a good many deaths.
There is the greatest revival of religion I ever knew in 
all of my life. Scores at all most every camp meeting.
We made good crops this season of corn and cotton. Oats, tobaco 
and cotton don't sell hardly at all, say 100 lb of cotton [?] 
one dollar per cwt. 
Tobaca is selling at 2$5 in [?] per cwt, corn 75 cents per barrell. 
Wheat 62/[?] per bbll, bacon 6 cents per pound, pork $1.50 per 
hundred cwt. Every thing is cheap for money is scarce, 
tho there is sum. What we have is good. I recon a man can do 
as well in Tennessee as any where else in the long run. 
Tho men make money faster at other places but they spend it 
faster too and come on a level at last.

John B. Davis


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