Letter from Katie Frierson Force to Manning Force

Carthage, Ala
30 July 1879

My Dear Brother -

I received your very kind letter of July 17th a few days ago with the ten dollars enclosed for Maning. He was very pround of it. He is growing very fast. Ella and Manning have been going to school for four months. They walked two miles every day and they learned very fast and if we could get good teachers it would be better but the teachers we have down here aas a general thing are very inferior.

I have the best crop growing on the place this year that I have ever seen grown on it since Henry bought it. If it does not rain too much for the cotton crop I will make at ten bales of cotton and more corn than i can use. I will have some to sell. I hope after this year that I will be able to do a little more than I have done before every year since Henry died. I have come out in debt so much that is has been right hard for me to get along. and where I live everybody is working for self and taking every advantage they can of the widow and the orphan. So much of that is going on in this neighborhood that I feel like I want to get away, to some place where my children can have teh advantage of good schools and better society than they have here.

My palce has never made me a support and pay my taxes. Since Henry died I had to buy another mule last spring so as to won twoo. I labor on my place and see what I could make. And Mr. Towers my Merchant who has been very kind to me advanced teh mule to me by me giving a mortgage on the one. I already had and gave me until the first of the Oct to pay for it and I hope by that time to ahve cotton. Would you be so kind uas to loan me the amount of Seventy Five Dollars for thirty or forthy days until I can get my cotton cleaned and sold and I will send you the amount with interest. I hate to ask so many favors of you but hope I will not have to trouble you so oftne when I get through with my debts this year. I was very much in hopes that we would go through this year without any sickness but I have disappointed for yesterday I had a very hard chil and I am afraid that they will continue all winter. The children keep well so far. I think your little boy has a beautiful name I think I like it so much with much love to yourself and Frances.

And write soon to your affect Sister Katie Force

Translation notes:

Katherine Ogie Frierson Force is the widow of Henry Clay Force, 1832-1874. The letter was written to her brother-in-law, Manning Force. The other Manning is Katie's and Henry's son who remained in Alabama after Henry's death. At this time, her oldest son, Peter is living with his uncle William Q Force in Washington DC so that he can be properly educated.