Smiley Letter Transcriptions

File submitted for USGenWeb/MOGenWeb Lincoln County page by Mark Etheridge, P.O. Box 164, Myersville, MD 21773-0164, 27 July and 11 August 1998.

Smiley Letter Transcriptions
extracted and copied from the
WESTERN HISTORICAL MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION
23 Ellis Library, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO

Transcribed from copies of the original letters
by Mark Etheridge

(#1)
Letter to Major Samuel Smiley, Auburn, Missouri
from E.(?) McGinnis, Versailles, Kentucky
January 21, 1834

Transcribed by Mark Etheridge

Versailles Jany 21st 1834

Dear Sir

yours of the 29th Ult is this day received sa soon as I received those papers you sent by Mr. Teague. I wrote to Major McCoun stating what papers I had received from you, and requesting an immediate answer, so as to be able to send you word by Mr. Teague. I however recieved no information from him and was so situated myself that I could not call on him. Sometime after Mr. Teague left, I received a (?) message from McCoun stating that the mony would be reddy about 1st Jany and that he would advise me of the time I should come for it. Soon after this I saw him when he repeated the same to me. Up to this time however he has not advised me that the mony was ready, nor have I received it, or any part of it. He has never said how much he would pay. I think he will not pay the third that belongs to my sister, and perhaps as affairs now stand he had better not; though myself and brother William had signed the bond preparatoty to such payment you say if I cannot collect the mony to send back the orders. I have not a way of collecting the part of Philip and
Mack and am at a loss whether to (include?) them with the bond. But it will not take long for the mail to carry you this and bring you my answer. If therefore you want the orders you sent me as guardian to Philip and Mack please write me forthwith and on the reception of yours I will send you the mony if I have collected it, and if not the orders if I should have the mony please say how I must send it whether by mail.
Please find enclosed the bond with the name of myself and that of my brother William stricken out.

Give my best wishes to Emily, my sister and my relations there, and accept the same for yourself.

Yours Etc.

E.(?) McGinnis

P.S. I forgot to say that my family was well except our youngest child Francis Ann who has been night sick for a few days.

We would be glad to see you and Emily in this country. Tell Strother(?) that his brother Thomas is to be married on Thursday next to Miss Lucy Hawkins of Woodyard.

McGinnis

(Letter addressed to "Major Samuel Smiley, Auburn, Missourie") Postmark Versailles, KY, Jan 21.

*****************************************************
NOT TO BE CITED WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO:
WESTERN HISTORICAL MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION
23 Ellis Library, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65201
This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code)
*****************************************************

(#2)
Letter to Samuel Smiley, Auburn Lincoln Co Mo
from Benjamin Congdon, New Boston, Mercer Co., IL
July 27, 1842

Transcribed by Mark Etheridge

(A translation before it fades out 10-15-45)

July 27, A.D. 1842

Dear Cousin:
Through mercy I am yet a survivor of the dead. I have not seen you I think for upwards of twenty years. My maiden name was Sarah Auxer, daughter of Michael Auxer. This will at once let you know who I am. I married a man by the name of (Benjamin?) Congdon with whom I still live. We have three children living and three dead; from this you will see we have been unfortunate in raising our children.
Last fall one year ago we moved into Illinois, Bond County, and then last fall we moved from there into Mercer County Illinois, where we now live, in three miles of New Boston on the bank of the Mississippi River, and at present we are all well.
Dear cousin this brief statement will I think suffice as regards myself and family.
I wish to know if you can tell where William Lewis and his family are. They moved first into your Country, but where they now are we know not. We greatly desire to hear from them, and we take this means of inquiring of you, hoping you will not fail to inform us.
We also want to know when you heard from Father or any of out friends in that country.
And we are also anxious to hear from you and family. Since you and (I) have seen each other, many of our friends have gone the way of all the earth, and we must soon follow, but while we are some of us yet alive I can speak for one that I would have great pleasure in seeing and hearing from from each other.
Fail not to write to us.

B & S Congdon

S Smiley
Send your letter to New Boston Mercer Co Illinois
To Benjamin Congdon
(address)
New Boston Ill

Mr Samuel Smiley
Auburn Lincoln Co Mo

*****************************************************
NOT TO BE CITED WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO:
WESTERN HISTORICAL MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION
23 Ellis Library, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65201
This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code)
*****************************************************

(#3)
Letter to Mr Samuel Smiley, Auburn, Lincoln Co., MO
from Christopher Moore, Vanceburgh, KY
August 14, 1842

Transcribed by Mark Etheridge

August 14th 1842 Vanceburgh Ky

Dear cousin
I received your letter and was glad to hear from you. If you hear of William Lewis write to me and let me know where he is. Your old uncle is in tolerable good health for a man of his age but is very frail scarce able to get about. He lives with James Fitchpattrick. I have an idea of moving to the Missourie. Tell me in your next letter what part I had better go too for the best. Times is hard. People is scarce able to pay their taxes.
Crops is good. Wheat wheat from 20 to 25 cents per bushel. Bacon from $1.50 to $2.00 per hundred.
Robert Adams the man that married Nancy Auxier want you to writ to him.
Direct your latter toVanceburgh Lewis County Kentucky

To S-Smiley Christopher Moore

(On outside of envelope)
Vanceburgh

Mr Samuel Smiley
Auburn P.O. Lincoln
County Missourie

Samuel Smiley
Dec 1842

*****************************************************
NOT TO BE CITED WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO:
WESTERN HISTORICAL MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION
23 Ellis Library, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65201
This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code)
*****************************************************

(#4)
Letter to Mr. Samuel Smiley, Auburn, Lincoln Co, Missouri
from Orange Hilborn, Mecklinburg
April 17th 1843

Transcribed by Mark Etheridge

Mecklinburg April 17th 1843

Friend Smiley, Esq.

I take this oppurtunity of dropping a few lines to you and hoping that you will grant me the favor of answering them as soon as you receive them. I have a (?) anxiety of hearing from Auburn and also wish to let you know that I am yet in the land of the living and enjoying very good health and hope these few lines may find you enjoying the same Blessing I now am in the State of New York in the above named place Tomkins Co Town of Hector where I have been for the last year doing tolerable well for these times it is hard times here I can tell you but I think they are getting better. Produce is on a rise. Wheat is worth $1.00 Oats 25 Corn 50 Buckwheat 50 everything in proportion except Hay that is worth ten dollars pr ton it has been a hard winter there is snow to be seen in the fields yet some places in the road it is 2 feet deep now.

I wish you would see Esq Wilson or William Taylor and see in what State the Judgememnt that I hold against T. Wells is in and please tell me his circumstances and what he is doing I want my money bad I want it attended to if it is necessary to S(?) it to keep it alive I want it done So I will be two years now soon, please tell me where Joseph Fisher is he wrote me if I would make him a lawfull agent he would collect it and send it to me I have don so I sent him power of an Attorney to collect it and I have not heard from him since.

Now Mr. Smiley I wish you would look to it a little and when the money is collected you shall be amply rewarded write me as soon as you get this if you please

Give my respects to your wife and family and all eng(?)ing friends.

Yours with respect Orange Hilborn

(Letter addressed to: Mr. Samuel Smiley Auburn Lincoln Co Missouri)

*****************************************************
NOT TO BE CITED WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO:
WESTERN HISTORICAL MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION
23 Ellis Library, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65201
This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code)
*****************************************************

(#5)
Note to Mrs. Smiley
from Wm. Bayard, Flint Hill, MO
March 7, 1855

Transcribed by Mark Etheridge

Flint Hill MO March 7th 1855

Mrs Smiley
    Dear Madam
        I left at your house my Watch on the Bureau this morning.
I wish you to keep it for me until Rev. W. A. Mayhew returns and deliver it to him for me.
Your compliance with the above will greatly oblige me.

            Respectfully Yours

            Wm. Bayard

*****************************************************
NOT TO BE CITED WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO:
WESTERN HISTORICAL MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION
23 Ellis Library, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65201
This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code)
*****************************************************

(#6)
Letter to Samuel Smiley, Lincoln Co., MO
from Mackie (?) P. Nichols, Montgomery Co., MO
October 6, 1859

Transcribed by Mark Etheridge

October the 6th 1859 Montgomery County, MO

Dear sister I now tak this opportunity of writting you afew lines to let you know that we are all well except mother She is quite unwell an has been for some time since Felix and his family are all well and also Isaac and mary are both well I believe I wish for you and the Mr Smiley and barton and and william to come out to the old ladys shortly as I expect to be married on the 17 of this month which will be next Thursday week and I would be very glad to see you and your family at the mothers nothing more at present but remain your brother till death

Mackie (?) P. Nichols

(Envelope addressed to Mr Samuel Smiley Lincoln County MO)

*****************************************************
NOT TO BE CITED WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO:
WESTERN HISTORICAL MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION
23 Ellis Library, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65201
This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code)
*****************************************************

(#7)
Letter to Mrs E R Smily
from Eliza H Nichols, Salvisa, Mercer Co.
February 28, 1861

Transcribed by Mark Etheridge

Salvisa, Mercer Co
Febuary 28 1861

My dear cousin it is with pleasure that I have seated my self this evning to drop you a few lines to let you know that we are all well at present and I hope that when this comes to hand it may find you all enjoying good health I have nothing new to write we all want to hear from you all very bad this (?) three letters I have wrote to you and have got no answer Cousin Em you do not know how bad we all want to see you all Cousin I have bad news to write to you uncle Matthew Nichols and uncle Sanford have both bin called to another and I hope a better world it was a hard trial to give thwm up uncle mat cancer killed him all was dun that could be dun to save him but all was of no use Uncle Sanford died with the fever there has bin a greate deal of sickness and death in our neighborhood in the last year all of kin (the) is well fofare as I know except grandfather I dont think he can last long he has a very bad cough I wish you and Emma was here to go with us girls to the singing tomorrow we have a day school and singing school at our schoolhouse
aunt Em I becky says tell you and my she wantsto see you both very bad She is going to school now father and mother says tell you must come and spend the summer with us mother says she is almost sick to get a letter from you she has wrote three letters and no answer from you all of the family sends their love to you all aunt Em me and Bob is about to step off if you will come about april you shal be at the weding times is very hard her and mony very scarse corn is two dollars a barrel and wheat one dollar and ten cents abushel I must come to a close give my compliments to all of the family and except a share for your self you must rite as soon as you get this farewell aunt this is fathers for you
Eliza H Nichols

to Mrs E R Smily

Emma here is some of becky hair for you I have had my picture taken for you intend to send it to you in a few days I want you to send me yourn and your ma it would give me so much pleasure to have them to look at this black hair is some of mothers Emma you must rite soon
E H Nichols

Emma Smily

*****************************************************
NOT TO BE CITED WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO:
WESTERN HISTORICAL MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION
23 Ellis Library, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65201
This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code)
*****************************************************

(#8)
Letter to Saml Smiley
from Benjamin Dodd
6 December 1839

Transcribed by Mark Etheridge

Desem Ber the 6 1839

Der sir I take this oppurtunity of in forming you that I am sill in good health in hopes thes few lines may find you injoying the same Blessing I expect that you think strange of me of not writing to you be fore now now But I got mi money in Saint Louis for the purpose of paing that $400 dollars But I started after mi mother and father in in diana and got to Louisville and thare I had mi money stolen from me or I shod of bin on that pase Before now But I am ruem for sum time yet You will have to doe what yoe pleas with that land I can't pay you I am sorry to saso but it is the true thing I want you to write to me and direct your letter to vix burgh missispi and also write to me what the mans name is that i left mi
things with at Clarks ville ask him to ceap them till spring till may I expect to be thare if you pleas Benjamin Dodd if ther is eny leters at or Ben sen them also

(Addressed to:
Mr. Saml Smiley
Orbin
Clark County
Missouri)

(#9)
Letter to Major Samuel Smiley
from John McGinnis
4 December 1839

Transcribed by Mark Etheridge

December 4th 1839

Dear Sir I arrived at Louisville on the tenth day after I left your hospital roof and found my Brother and family well and in two more days ride I got home and found my family in common health I had excellent weather on my return as far as Louisville where I had a dreadful stormy day with a severe freeze. I have suffered severely with the rumatism on my return and since at home find mony matters much deranged and consequently every description of property lower than when I left home. My wife and family join in sending their compliments to you and family in particular and to all our relatives in general. You will find enclosed a copy of the will you desired. Nothing at present but remain yours(?)

John McGinnis                          Samuel Smiley

Letter addressed to:     Major Samuel Smiley
            Lincoln County Mifsouri
            Auburn Post Office

Also on envelope:    Double 50
            Lawrenceburg K Decm 5th

File submitted for USGenWeb/MOGenWeb Lincoln County page by Mark Etheridge, P.O. Box 164, Myersville, MD 21773-0164, 27 Jul and 11 August 1998.

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The Smiley Letter Transcriptions went online 7/27/98.
Additional transcriptions added 8/11/98.

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