Documents, Letters, Reminiscences, Etc.
18. Charles William Tait to James Asbury Tait,
August 24, 1853
Columbus, Texas Augt 24th 1853
Dear Father
Your letter of the 2nd inst was yesterday re-
ceived. We were glad to hear that you were all
well. Louisa & myself have had good health this
summer with the exception of an attack of
influenza or cold with fever. Caroline has
suffered a good deal with bowel complaint, but
is now in good health. The negroes have been in
better health this summer than usual, tho' we
have lost two little ones, one burnt to death, &
the other died of the influenza. We commenced
picking cotton on the 15th of this month. My
cotton is more open now than ever before at this
season of the year.
The first half of the hundred dollar-bill, you
sent, was duly received. I had intended to move
my cowpen, by another season, across the
hollow in a North east direction from the house.
How would it do to move my residence three
quarters of a mile up my spring branch, near a
spring there is there? I recd the history of Ala.
& the map you sent. I have read the history &
am much pleased with it, tho' I should like it
better if he had treated some portions of it more
fully. Louisa joins me in love to you & all
Your affectionate son
C Wm Tait
Jas A. Tait Esqr
Black's Bluff
19. Charles William Tait to James Asbury Tait,
September 8, 1853
Columbus Texas Septr 8th 1853
Dear Father
Your letter mailed on the 17th of August,
was received on the 29th of the same We were
glad to hear that you were all well. The last half
of the hundred dollar bill was received, it is so
late in the season now that we will perhaps not
want to use it this year, but will use it next year
We are all in good health now, our daughter
is in better health than she has been since you
were here. There is not one sick on the place
now. We are busy picking cotton now, we
commenced on the 15th of August this year. My
crop has been shortened by the late very dry
weather, & I do not think I shall make as much
as I thought I should six weeks ago. The cotton
is very much opened what there is of it. The
weather is more like fall this morning than
usual. Did you receive the letter I wrote you on
my return from Houston, when you left? In it I
mentioned about finding a second cousin of
yours in Richmond.
Louisa joins me in love to you all.
Your affectionate son
C Wm Tait
J A Tait Blacks Bluff Ala
20. Charles William Tait to James Asbury Tait,
October 16, 1853
Columbus, Texas October 16th 1853
Dear Father
Your letter of the 27th Septr was recd on the
14th inst, by which we were glad to hear from
you all, but sorry to learn that you were unwell.
Since I last wrote you I have myself been unwell
from an attack of cold & bowel complaint, but
am now entirely recovered. Caroline had quite
a severe attack of fever last week which contin-
ued several days, she is now much better.
Louisa's health is good. The negroes are all
well. Nicey I think is without any change in her
character or conduct, We do not keep her about
the house now. Frank does not come up to his
recommendation but I think is doing better
lately than he did some time ago. His character
for honesty is not very good He has not been
picking cotton this season. We shall be done
picking cotton about the 1st of Novr if the
weather continues favorable We have had a
very favorable season for cotton picking this
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