Letter by James R. Padgitt

Houston, Texas
August the 20, 1854

To David Padgitt,

Dear Brother and Sister and children:

The time has come for me to right to you all once more as I feel it my Dewtey to do So as well as my privilege. I will now inform you Dear Brother that We are all well at this time and hope when This letter comes to hand that it will find you all well and doing well and on your way to heaven. I will say to you as one that has witness this fact that it is mouch easer to serve God in the States than it is here. you noe that this State, to wit texas, is one of the 36 States Which wee fought for in 44, But it is on the out side. per haps I have not seD anof on this Subject for this time to let you noe that I do not like this part of texas. If I noe my Self I am onest and I would not Right to you That I did like when I did not. I noe That this is a new country and it has got A great deal to do. and I noe that you and E. Padgitt and N. Robertson and H. fleetwood and H. Harlow has got about twenty-five children And how meney more you will have God noes and that all want to Bee rich in money, negroes or lands.

Well I will now tell you that I cant right as mouch as I wood for the mail is all most reddey to start. I will say, however, that I will promise you and prove true to my trust that I am a good judge of some things if I fail in some. I could give you as much detail of the production of our country if I had time. But you must excuse me for this time on this point.

I will now inform you that on yesterday was a week ago there was two men that had had some grudge against eachother for some time. These men's names was Davis and Bates. Davis was a brave man and it was proven in court by a host of witnesses that Davis requested Bates time after time to go with him out in the street or in a perary and shoot with him till one or the other was kild. Bates did not except of this request and he wated a time and about Sunday or Saturday last Bates went into the Houston Haule [Hall] and asked Mr. Davis to walk out on the pavement and talk with him. As soon as he got Davis outside of the house, Bates drew a pistol and shot Davis theru the neck. Davis lived one day and night and the pore fellow died and went to hell no dought, if there is such a place and I don't dout that atall myself. There is more people that deserves the punishment of hell and the power of the Supreme Being here than I ever saw.

And I do believe that there is more men and women that will go to hell from texas than any one state in the world. And I will give you my opinion about texas. It has all ways bin overrated. And any man that has got a home in tennessee so as to keep the shuriff off of them, I would say to them to stay thare, for this is one of the outside States and there is more - here than you ever saw and the half of them is worse than hogs.

Well, David, you must not think that I am sick of texas yet, tho I don't like this part. There is plenty of good land here. I am doing right well. I am getting two dollars per day building a house and that is right good wages. The sun is very hot here indeed.

You must tell Lucinda and James Robberson I received their letter this day dated the 30 of July and I was glad to hear from all, but sorry to hear that you all had bin so sick. We are all well at this time. Tell James Robberson and Lewcinda that I will right to them soon. You must give my compliments to all of my friends. Tell them that I think I will live to see them again. But if we should never meet again on earth, let us try to meet beyeand the grave where wee will peart no more. Right me word how you feel on that subject. As to my part, I feel my chances was sarter bad some times and some times right good.

Tell Durritt [W. Durrett Padgitt, the writer's brother, a Methodist preacher, living in Kentucky.] that Bob and Tom is going to school and is learning fast. Bob is syphrn and Tom is reading in the first reader.

So no more at present. But remember your brother until death.

James Padgitt