This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: FRAZIER, MORRIS, RICH, VINEYARD Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/FMB.2ACE/1441 Message Board Post: THIS VERY INTERESTING LETTER WAS FOUND RECENTLY IN THE GRAINGER COUNTY, TENNESSEE ARCHIVES. THOUGHT IT MAY BE OF INTEREST TO SOMEONE. DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT MY FAMILY AND I HAVE NO FURTHER INFORMATION OTHER THAN WHATS IN THE LETTER. Pettis County, Mo. May 27th 1866 Dear Cousins, I have yours of Feb 28 before me and of course you think strange that its not bin answered before this time. Im living 100 miles East of where I was in old times and hapened to be at the old place on business or I never should have got the letter, but you would have heard from me soon and would before this time had I known the poste routes were established in my old state thats ever dear to me. As I don't no you had heard of mothers death I will rite it to you. She died Sept. 4th '58. Laura Died Jany 26th 1862 aged 25y. 11m. 18days. They were lovely in their lives and in their deaths they were not parted. They sleep side by side in the grave yard at Little osage. She was maryed Sept. 2 day 1860 at my house. Her husbands name was John Rich from Virginia. He died Jany. 28th 1861. They never had any heir. I had 2 plats of ground in the grave yard 10 by 20 feet each. Mother lies on one and Laura on the other. I want to put up Nice tombstones of Marble at their grave! s this fall if life and health permit(?). Heres a copy of the engraving. In memory of Lucy L Morris whoo was born in Carrel(?) County, Va., March 31st 1795 Departed this life Sept 4th 1858 aged aged 63y. 5m. 3days} Said she I saw beyond the grave and all was peace and joy to me. May we all live so that at last these words (may be (?)) In memory of Laura M Rich whoo was Born in grainger County Tennessee Feb 8th 1836 whooes Maidin Name was Vineyard Died Jany 26th 1862 aged 25y. 11m. 18d. Uncle Thomas Morris is dead long ago. His family is scattered and none of them in Mo. that I no of but all alive at last accounts. The boys wase in all the war and never got a scratch. Which side say you. The rite side says I for their country and their honor Morris (?). Your uncle Milton Morris is back from California live and well family and all. He has heard of some woman dying and leaving him a farm in the southwest of this state or near edge of arcansas. He has gone to look after it. It must be aunt Patsy frazier. The man died first then the woman. The boys may have bin killed in the war. What did you leave for your old home on osage you ask. Answer because the yankee thieves and cut throats took all I had and as fast as I could make a crop would come and find(?) it out and haul it of and curse and abuse me and my family for Damned rebels and damned Missourians and I could not live and ceep from starving enny longer telling us that they had the power and intended to use it and the next time they would burn our house and kill us if we were found at home but I stood it till last spring, and then left. That was the way folks was treated here and if a man could be scared then he was brush whacker and shot on sight like a mad dog and they state all he he was then Rebel. I was often scared but too mad to own it and will just add for your information that I still own 360 acres of land cows to give us milk oxen to brake(?) my land 3 good horses to plow my corn 75 acres under fence and done planting. So with the blessing of that god in whom I trust and whoo has ne! ver forsaken me though I have often forsaken him I hope still to ceep bread for man wife and our little ones 6 in No. Now girls a word of advice to you all. Your father is gone the way of all the earth and you and I and all flesh that now breathe must soon follow. A shorte time ago we all played together in our old Native land of liberty. Now we ar old and grayheaded, at least I am. 48 years of trouble and hardship have passed over me with here and there a beam of Joy. Our birth is but a starting place Life is the running of a race And Death the goal} So then let us look a head to that time when the gole of life will be ours at last and rest that sweet repose so much needed to the troubled sole tossed to and fro on the sea of life and ever in want ofe something, never attained in this world. There is a great deal depending on you. Listen to your friends and relations and be virtuos and cind one to an other and ceep your house in order and though darke clouds may ore spread your humble home an cottage trust and ask of god and he will deliver and not forsake you in your hour of trouble and danger. And may the god of peace and Joy rain and rule amonge you all is my prayer for Christ sake amen even so let it be . Direct to C. L. Morris, Pettis county Sedalia. So no more at present(?) but remain yours &c. C. L. Morris