Thomas H. Corbett Letter

This letter was written by Thomas H. Corbett to his niece Annie Morrow in Texas in 1886. It provides a glimpse into family life and local events in Kentucky during that period. Highlights include mentions of health, family members, local politics, and social activities.
The writer is humourous and informal in his tone, giving a personal touch to the historical context of the time.

Frankfort, Ky. April 26th, 1886

Dear Annie,

It has been some time since we had a letter from any of you. How are you all getting along? How is old Liz? Does she sit up in the corner and quarel as much as ever? Where is old "Set him up", what is he doing? Has he got anymore lies to tell about marrying? What is red headed Sam doing? The last time I heard of him, he was educating himself for a preacher. Is he making much headway in that direction?
Where is Rawhide, what does he look like? Does he look like a human being or does he look like a Texan outlaw? This leaves us all well except Rubie. She has not been as well as usual the last few days. Jake and Beck has been talking all this winter about coming out to see youall this spring, as soon as the Legislature adjourns which will be in 10 or 15 days now, I suppose. But I guess when it comes to starting that, Beck will back out.
Your uncle Jim White and uncle Sam Coil has been up here nearly all the winter to try and prevent the Legislature from dividing Ballard County, but they failed. It was divided and the new county named Carlisle. They will locate the new county seat the first Monday in the next month. Milburn, Arlington and Bardwell are all contending for it, with I think, the chances in favor of Bardwell. Unless they conclude to locate it in the center of the county, then it will go near your Aunt Poss, if not on her place. Old Ballard is cut up and split up so that she is not like she used to be.
The people do not appear like they did 20 or 30 years ago, but such is life. I have not been about there but very little since you all left. We hear from your aunt Florence nearly every week. She writes like she was as happy as a big sunflower. The last time we heard from Will Garret, his health was improving and I suppose he might get comparatively well if he would let whisky alone. But John and Sid Morrow does not like him and of course he would not permit him to live with them.
Well, Annie, what are the prospects of you marrying? If you do mot marry in the next 30 or 40 years, you will be ranked among the old maids in Texas.
Will you or not, tell Liz that I have a splendid garden? Peas big enough to stick and lettuce in abundance. I eat about a peck twice a day when I can. Got a plenty of red gravies to put on it. I am not as fond of onions as I used to be. They do not agree with me. When I eats over 25 or 30 at a time, I have got the best ____?___( unreadable) in the United States. We just have milk and butter until you can't rest. Jerry can drink a half a gallon at every meal. He will be 14 years old day after tomorrow. He is nearly as tall as I am. I believe his legs is hollow, for he can eat more than anybody in America. He is more like Liz every day of his life. Looks like her, eats like her, and rolls over the whites of his eyes like her and is lazy like her, sleeps like her, scratches like her and is like her generally. He learns pretty fast when I can get him to go to school. He loves dogs and cats, horses, cattle, and most everything else that can walk.
The weather here at this time is beautiful and vegetation is growing so rapidly that you can almost see it. We are having a big protracted meeting going on at our church this week. It will probably continue two or three weeks. It commenced yesterday. I think that we will have a good and profitable one. It looks like it is going to rain. I must quit and go home and have some ground prepared to set out some cabbage and tomato plants. Write me soon and tell me all that you know and a little the___?__(unreadable).
Give my love to all the children, for I do not know their names. Ask old "Set him up" how he would like to have a quart of 10 year old rye?
Your uncle,
Thos. H. Corbett